Morrison: China coal ban would breach WTO rules

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Tuesday that China would be in breach of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules as well as a bilateral free trade agreement if it banned Australian coal.Scott Morrison was responding to a report in the Chinese state-owned Global Times newspaper that the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission had given power plants approval to import coal without restrictions, except for Australian coal.

Morrison said he was treating the report as "media speculation" because the Chinese government had yet to clarify its position. Coal and iron ore are Australia's most lucrative exports. But a range of products appear to have suffered due to deteriorating bilateral relations since Australia called for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic.

Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said Australia was close to finalizing a complaint to the World Trade Organization over Chinese tariffs imposed on barley and also commented on Tuesday on reports emanating from State-owned Chinese newspapers with regards to Australian coal.

(Image Credit: AP)