❓ WA Parliament discusses China's restrictions on rock lobster imports via Hong Kong's 'grey market'. The Minister indicates the issue is with Chinese importers, not Australian exporters, and trade may be resuming.
AnsweredQoN 1038Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
WESTERN ROCK LOBSTER INDUSTRY — ACCESS TO CHINESE MARKET
Before I read the question, I know some sensitivities are involved, so I am not asking the minister to contribute to that; I am just wondering whether some information can be made available. Can the minister inform the house of the reason why the western rock lobster industry is having trouble accessing the Chinese market? Hon NORMAN MOORE
Before I read the question, I know some sensitivities are involved, so I am not asking the minister to contribute to that; I am just wondering whether some information can be made available. Can the minister inform the house of the reason why the western rock lobster industry is having trouble accessing the Chinese market? Hon NORMAN MOORE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question. I am surprised that he needed to ask me, because I would have thought he knew the answer. However, I will tell him the answer. I have been advised by industry and the federal government that the Chinese government has clamped down on the import of rock lobster shipments into mainland China from Hong Kong that have not passed through the normal customs channels. I am told that this happens from time to time and that it is not limited only to rock lobster shipments. In the past, everything from wine to fruit and vegetables has had access to this so-called “grey market” curtailed. Usually, these closures last only a few days, but in this case it has gone on for at least two weeks; why this should be the case is a matter of speculation. It needs to be noted that these closures are aimed at local Chinese importers who bring product into Hong Kong, not Australian exporters exporting to Hong Kong. Local processors have indicated that they have received orders in the past day or two, which may mean that the trade is restarting; that is promising news.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. I am surprised that he needed to ask me, because I would have thought he knew the answer. However, I will tell him the answer. I have been advised by industry and the federal government that the Chinese government has clamped down on the import of rock lobster shipments into mainland China from Hong Kong that have not passed through the normal customs channels. I am told that this happens from time to time and that it is not limited only to rock lobster shipments. In the past, everything from wine to fruit and vegetables has had access to this so-called “grey market” curtailed. Usually, these closures last only a few days, but in this case it has gone on for at least two weeks; why this should be the case is a matter of speculation. It needs to be noted that these closures are aimed at local Chinese importers who bring product into Hong Kong, not Australian exporters exporting to Hong Kong. Local processors have indicated that they have received orders in the past day or two, which may mean that the trade is restarting; that is promising news.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. I am surprised that he needed to ask me, because I would have thought he knew the answer. However, I will tell him the answer. I have been advised by industry and the federal government that the Chinese government has clamped down on the import of rock lobster shipments into mainland China from Hong Kong that have not passed through the normal customs channels. I am told that this happens from time to time and that it is not limited only to rock lobster shipments. In the past, everything from wine to fruit and vegetables has had access to this so-called “grey market” curtailed. Usually, these closures last only a few days, but in this case it has gone on for at least two weeks; why this should be the case is a matter of speculation. It needs to be noted that these closures are aimed at local Chinese importers who bring product into Hong Kong, not Australian exporters exporting to Hong Kong. Local processors have indicated that they have received orders in the past day or two, which may mean that the trade is restarting; that is promising news.
I have been advised by industry and the federal government that the Chinese government has clamped down on the import of rock lobster shipments into mainland China from Hong Kong that have not passed through the normal customs channels. I am told that this happens from time to time and that it is not limited only to rock lobster shipments. In the past, everything from wine to fruit and vegetables has had access to this so-called “grey market” curtailed. Usually, these closures last only a few days, but in this case it has gone on for at least two weeks; why this should be the case is a matter of speculation. It needs to be noted that these closures are aimed at local Chinese importers who bring product into Hong Kong, not Australian exporters exporting to Hong Kong. Local processors have indicated that they have received orders in the past day or two, which may mean that the trade is restarting; that is promising news.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. I am surprised that he needed to ask me, because I would have thought he knew the answer. However, I will tell him the answer. I have been advised by industry and the federal government that the Chinese government has clamped down on the import of rock lobster shipments into mainland China from Hong Kong that have not passed through the normal customs channels. I am told that this happens from time to time and that it is not limited only to rock lobster shipments. In the past, everything from wine to fruit and vegetables has had access to this so-called “grey market” curtailed. Usually, these closures last only a few days, but in this case it has gone on for at least two weeks; why this should be the case is a matter of speculation. It needs to be noted that these closures are aimed at local Chinese importers who bring product into Hong Kong, not Australian exporters exporting to Hong Kong. Local processors have indicated that they have received orders in the past day or two, which may mean that the trade is restarting; that is promising news.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. I am surprised that he needed to ask me, because I would have thought he knew the answer. However, I will tell him the answer. I have been advised by industry and the federal government that the Chinese government has clamped down on the import of rock lobster shipments into mainland China from Hong Kong that have not passed through the normal customs channels. I am told that this happens from time to time and that it is not limited only to rock lobster shipments. In the past, everything from wine to fruit and vegetables has had access to this so-called “grey market” curtailed. Usually, these closures last only a few days, but in this case it has gone on for at least two weeks; why this should be the case is a matter of speculation. It needs to be noted that these closures are aimed at local Chinese importers who bring product into Hong Kong, not Australian exporters exporting to Hong Kong. Local processors have indicated that they have received orders in the past day or two, which may mean that the trade is restarting; that is promising news.
I have been advised by industry and the federal government that the Chinese government has clamped down on the import of rock lobster shipments into mainland China from Hong Kong that have not passed through the normal customs channels. I am told that this happens from time to time and that it is not limited only to rock lobster shipments. In the past, everything from wine to fruit and vegetables has had access to this so-called “grey market” curtailed. Usually, these closures last only a few days, but in this case it has gone on for at least two weeks; why this should be the case is a matter of speculation. It needs to be noted that these closures are aimed at local Chinese importers who bring product into Hong Kong, not Australian exporters exporting to Hong Kong. Local processors have indicated that they have received orders in the past day or two, which may mean that the trade is restarting; that is promising news.
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