China Considering Lifting Ban on Imports of Australian Coal

Chinese officials are considering the resumption of coal imports from Australia following a two-year ban on the goods, Bloomberg reported Jan. 3. China's National Development and Reform Commission had talks Jan. 3 on allowing four importers -- China Baowu Steel, China Datang, China Huaneng Group and China Energy Investment -- to import Australian coal this year, with the first shipment coming as early as April 1.