China has blacklisted four red meat processing plants in Australia, suspending their meat imports.
This decision is seen as retaliation in the midst of a bilateral dispute over the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, Australia joined the growing number of countries demanding an investigation into how the virus went from a localized epidemic in central China to a global pandemic.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his investigation would not be directed against China, but was necessary since the virus had killed more than 290,000 people and shut down much of the global economy.
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Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingye replied that Chinese consumers could boycott Australian universities and products due to research calls: "The Chinese public is frustrated, dismayed and disappointed that the Australia is doing it right now, "he said in a statement. interview.
China's foreign ministry on Tuesday denied any connection to the Covid-19 dispute, saying it had discovered violations of health certificate regulations in the factory.
Analysts said three of the combined slaughterhouses produce about 35% of meat exports to China, Australia's largest trading partner. Meat exports to China bring Australia around one billion euros each year.
In April, Cheng said: "If the mood is going from bad to worse, people would think" why should we go to a country that is not as friendly with China? Tourists may have doubts. It's up to people to decide. Maybe ordinary people will say "Why should we drink Australian wine? Eat Australian beef?"