OREANDA-NEWS. According to the newspaper Financial Times, over the past few weeks, the authorities of more than dozen Chinese cities have imposed restrictions on electricity consumption due to a shortage of thermal coal. The coal shortage is largely due to the trade conflict with Australia, which is one of the largest suppliers of coal to China.

In spring of the current year, the Australian government called for an investigation into the causes of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, including the possible concealment of the information by the Chinese government at an early stage of disease spread. In response to these demands, the Chinese government accused Australia of dumping and imposed increased tariffs on Australian raw materials and other goods. The Australian government has been protesting against China’s sanctions on Australian raw materials; last week Canberra announced that it files a complaint with the World Trade Organization.