The move comes after import restrictions on Australian coal, timber and barley were lifted.
The Australian government announced that China has lifted an import ban on five Australian beef producers, the latest sign of a thaw in long-standing tensions between Beijing and Canberra.
“China has lifted its suspension of five Australian meat processing facilities, which is good news for our producers and underpins the calm and consistent stance of the Albany Labor Government,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement on Thursday.
Chinese authorities imposed restrictions on a host of Australian imports in 2020, including coal, wine, barley and lobster, after then-Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an international investigation into the origins of COVID-19.
China claims the measures relate to trade-related issues such as dumping, but in Australia the restrictions are widely seen as a political move to punish Canberra.
Many of the restrictions have been lifted since Anthony Albanese, leader of the centre-left Labor Party, became prime minister in 2022 after nearly a decade of Conservative government.
China was Australia’s second-largest international market for beef last year, with exports worth about $1.6 billion, according to Australian trade data.
Wong said suspensions at eight beef processing facilities had been lifted following the resumption of imports from three producers last year.
The two establishments remain subject to the suspension, she said.
“We have been clear that removing remaining trade barriers is in both Australia’s and China’s interests,” she said.
Mr Wong said Australian exports were now hampered by less than $1 billion, compared with a previous decline of $20.6 billion.
The move comes after Chinese authorities announced they would remove heavy tariffs on Australian wine after lifting import restrictions on coal, timber and barley in March.
Australian lobster is one of the last products to remain subject to an informal trade ban.
The Chinese Embassy in Canberra did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
