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Calls for calm in China beef export dispute

China has suspended beef imports from four abattoirs in NSW and Queensland, escalating trade and diplomatic tensions with Australia.Eighteen per cent of Australia's beef production is exported to China, with exports worth more than $3 billion a year.The four meatworks involved — JBS Dinmore, JBS Beef City, Kilcoy and Northern Cooperative Meat Company — account for roughly 35 per cent of Australian beef exports.China Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said customs officers had detected "repeated violations" of inspection and quarantine requirements by a "few" Australian beef export companies.“China has decided to suspend effective immediately, processing four Australian companies’ import declarations for meat products,” he said.Nationals Senator Matt Canavan said the issue appeared to be about labelling stickers being the wrong way around and noted the Kilcoy abattoir was Chinese-owned.“We shouldn't jump to conclusions but it does underscore the need for us to diversify our trade relationships,” he said.

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