China has hit several Australian industries with economic sanctions as part of punishment over Canberra's criticism of Beijing blocking investigations into the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on Huawei Technologies.
A Chinese official openly declared on Wednesday that Beijing has singled out Australia for economic punishment, saying the federal government cannot profit from China while "smearing" it, reported ABC News.
China's government has hit several Australian industries with economic sanctions, imposing hefty tariffs on Australian barley and wine exports while throwing up barriers to several other products including timber, lobster, and coal.
But it has typically not framed these decisions as acts of political retaliation.