Australia will promptly resume exporting timber to China after the $1.6 billion annual trade was suspended in 2020 due to quarantine risks.

Assistant Minister for Trade, Tim Ayres, told Deborah Knight that Australia is “Not in a position where we can say trade has returned to normal”, but we are “making progress”.

Three years ago, China halted timber imports from NSW and WA due to reported pest discoveries in shipments from those regions.

“We do not believe there are any biosecurity issues with Australian timber…I’m pleased that claim has stopped,” said Mr Ayres.

Hear more highlights from Deborah Knight below: