Australian wheat exporters retreat amid trade dispute with China

Some Australian wheat exporters have made the unusual decision to hold back from selling grain to China, even though demand from the world’s second largest economy has increased.

“Obviously China is a big market but no one in their right mind would be selling to them and putting new business into that market because of what is happening with barley and other agricultural commodities,” Brett Donoghue, export manager of New South Wales-based grain marketer Agracom, told Reuters.

According to the Reuters article, a Chinese buyer who declined to be identified said China usually buys Australian wheat in the fourth quarter for shipment in January. But Chinese officials gave early warning the country would strengthen inspections on…