Australian lobster sector claws back trade after China ban

Published 2020년 12월 27일

Tridge summary

Australia's lobster industry is facing a significant challenge after China imposed a near-total import ban, reducing exports to 94% of the usual volume and valued at half a billion US dollars annually. This politically motivated move is part of a broader trade dispute that has seen other Australian sectors such as barley and wine facing import levies, potentially costing exporters up to 4 billion US dollars in sales. In response, local authorities have allowed commercial lobster fishers to sell directly to the public, providing a temporary solution. The industry, however, is looking to diversify its markets and increase prices in Japan, the United States, and Europe to reduce reliance on China. The long-term goal is to sustain the tradition and continuity of the lobster fishing industry, which has a rich history in Australia.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

FREMANTLE: Even in the scorching Australian summer sun, long queues of customers snake around Fremantle harbour - a soothing sight for beleaguered local fishermen trying to replace lost business with China. Australia's rock lobster exports are worth half a billion US dollars a year - and in normal times, 94 per cent of them go to China. But all that changed a few weeks ago, when Beijing imposed a near-total import ban on lobster, part of a broader politically charged "shadow trade war". "It has affected us drastically," third-generation fisherman Fedele Camarda told AFP. "Our income has been reduced considerably." Fisherman Michael Vinci sells live western rock lobsters from his boat. The public has responded enthusiastically to the boat sales, queuing in the heat to buy directly on the quay in Fremantle. (Photo: AFP/Trevor Collens) Relations between Canberra and Beijing have been in free-fall for most of this year, with China hitting out at a list of issues including Australia's ...

Source: Channelnewsasia