China Suspends the Importation of Timber from Australia

Ties between China and Australia began to fray in early April and the friction between the two countries continues to heat up. On Monday (11/2), China’s foreign ministry confirmed that China had suspended imports of timber from the Australian state of Queensland, noting that since January, Chinese customs has detected several cases of live pest in timbers imported from the region. According to data from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia exported more than 680 million Australian dollars ($478 million) worth of timber in the year ended June, with 84% going to China. There have also been reported issues, with various problems with lobsters, cotton and coal entering China from Australia.