Beijing’s Ambassador Confirms Lifting of Ban on Australian Timber As China Seeks CPTPP Approval

Timber supplies are seen during a workshop tour in Blackburn, Melbourne, Australia on April 20, 2023. AAP Image/James Ross

After three years of tit-for-tat trade disputes, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has confirmed it will resume its importation of Australian timber—effective immediately.

In a rare media appearance, Beijing’s ambassador to Canberra, Xiao Qian, told reporters that the central government’s decision was based on a “serious study” provided to Beijing by Australia on the quarantine risks of Australian timber, which “have satisfied the conditions of the Chinese Customs.”