The Chinese state-owned mouthpiece 'The Global Times' reported Australia has been “shut out” of China’s new coal policy. A meeting between China’s top ten power companies with the country’s National Development and Reform Commission has reportedly confirmed China’s stance on Australian coal.
Beijing has granted the power companies permission to import coal without restrictions yet has excluded Australian coal from that list, while prioritising imports from Russia, Mongolia, and Indonesia. It is the latest ramp up in an ongoing trade stoush between the two nations with many of Australia’s major export industries coming under pressure from Chinese tariffs and bans.