WTO Filing: China waste import ban

On 18 July 2017, China announced to the WTO their intention to ban the import of waste products from US, Japan, Australia and other source countries, to take full effect by the end of 2017.

According to data from Reuters, China accounted for 56% of the world's waste product imports. 

The Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) made the Department of Foreign Affiars and Trade (DFAT) aware of this development soon after the filing was made and we would like to acknowledge DFAT's strong and immediate response.

Although the ban does not currently extend to all waste products, it is the most severe move to date under China's anti-foreign garbage campaign, and it will have an impact on several APSA members, as well as significant consequences for the way Australia treats waste domestically. 

APSA has been working closely with DFAT in response to this development, as well as industry bodies including Waste Recycling Industry Queensland. We understand that DFAT will be coordinating a formal submission in response to the filing before 1 September 2017.   

Please see here the list of affected products including HS Codes 

G/TBT/N/CHN/1211
G/TBT/N/CHN/1212

Travis Brooks-Garrett
Secretariat
APSA