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Why a Chinese Coal Buy From Australia Should Worry Some Developing Countries

by Eric Olander
File image of coal shipments being prepped for export from Australia's Newscastle port, the world's largest coal exporting port. Saeed KHAN / AFP

One of China’s largest coal importers, the China Energy Investment Corp., bought at least two shipments of Australian coal on Friday in the latest sign of thawing ties between the two countries.

While the amount purchased is not significant, it’s the first such purchase since China imposed de facto sanctions against $20 billion of Australian products beginning in 2020.

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