Australia Seeks to Break China Coal Stalemate as Tensions Rise
- PM Morrison says relationship is in an ‘extraordinary period’
- Beijing has blacklisted wide swathe of commodities, foodstuffs
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he’s appointed his “best people” to work on breaking a stalemate that’s seen more than 50 ships laden with Australian coal stranded off Chinese ports, as tensions between the trading partners increase.
More than $500 million worth of Australian coal and about 1,000 crew on the ships are stuck after China blacklisted a wide swathe of Australian commodities and foodstuffs, amid what Morrison described on Thursday as an “extraordinary period” in the relationship.