Australian table grapes exported to China are currently experiencing delays in customs clearance at Chinese ports, which exporters and industry sources see as another sign of deteriorating relations between the two countries, Reuters reported on April 23.
The report quoted Jeff Scott, executive director of Australia’s Australian Table Grape Association, as confirming that delays in customs clearance have continued for three weeks, with some 400 to 500 containers currently taking five to 10 days longer than normal to clear customs. He said that the fruits are in refrigeration and no spoilage has occurred yet. But to avoid delays, the cargo from one port to another port to try to clear customs, the Australian farmers have to bear the associated costs.
Scot said the delay in customs clearance mostly occurs in southern Chinese ports, most notably Shenzhen. Australian exporters have not been given an explanation for the delay in customs clearance by the Chinese side, but exporters from other countries have not suffered the same delays.
The Australian government was retaliated against by the Chinese Communist Party last year for publicly calling for an independent international investigation into the origin of the New Coronavirus, a Chinese Communist virus. So far, Australia’s exports to China of coal, barley, wine, seafood, sugar, timber and meat have been comprehensively restricted. On November 30 last year, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian tweeted a false image ridiculing the indiscriminate killing of civilians by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, a move that provoked a public outcry in Australia and brought relations between the two countries to a low point.
Australian Foreign Minister John Payne announced on Wednesday that Australia has cancelled two agreements signed between Victoria and the Chinese Communist Party on “One Belt, One Road” cooperation because the agreements are inconsistent with or detrimental to Australia’s foreign policy and diplomatic relations.
So far, Shenzhen port authorities have not responded to media inquiries.
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