Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

That really is a question for China. I note that Chinese authorities have denied the suggestion of there being an outright ban in relation to certain export products from Australia entering China. They have made those denials both in private and, through their media spokespeople, in public.

I note, as I said in answer to the primary question, that we have seen over the last few days shipments in a number of areas still proceed through customs, and we hope to see that continue—that China is true to its word, which it has given publicly and privately that there is not such an intervention, and does continue to allow trade to flow in accordance with commitments that China has made under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and in accordance with the commitments that China has made as a member of the World Trade Organization. Trade between our two nations is beneficial to people across both our nations and across our region. It's beneficial to people and businesses within China as well, and any disruption will harm them as much as it will us.