There are signs the $700 million rock lobster trade between Australia and China may soon be revived as hopes grow that an Australian exporter will soon be granted a licence to bring crustaceans into the country.
Trade Minister Don Farrell has told the ABC a recent application to trade fresh lobsters from Australia was not rejected by Beijing authorities.
It's understood to be the first time such a permit hasn't been denied since trade ground to a halt in late 2020.
"I see that as a positive sign in the relationship," Senator Farrell said
The South China Morning Post recently quoted unnamed sources saying the trade would be permitted to resume in March.
But Senator Farrell would not be drawn on when the first shipment of lobsters could arrive in China.
"These problems didn't occur overnight, and unfortunately, they're not going to be solved overnight," he said.
The West Australian based Geraldton Fishermen's Cooperative is the largest processor and exporter of rock lobsters in the world.
A company spokesperson said "while recent dialogue and developments are encouraging, there has been no change to imports at this time".
The breakthrough comes after a 72,000 tonne shipment of Australian coal arrived in China on Wednesday.
Exports of live lobsters ended when a $2 million shipment of live rock lobsters was stranded on the tarmac in Shanghai, with China's customs agency alleging the lobsters may be contaminated.
While there have been no Australian exports of live lobster to China since November 2020, exports of frozen lobster have continued.
Timber signs
Exporters of timber to China experienced a similar disruption in 2020, with shipments of Australian logs unable to clear China's customs requirements.
But Senator Farrell said there had also been progress on that trade.
"There are some indications that orders are coming through, so there's been a few products which progress seems to be heading in the right direction," he said.
"Again, I would be hopeful that in the very near future, our timber products will coming be coming back into China".
