As reported by Reuters, Australia has urged China to respond to its request to discuss easing tension between the two trading partners. Canberra has called for an international enquiry into the origins of the novel coronavirus. China has recently suspended beef imports from four of Australia’s largest meat processing plants and is also considering imposing hefty tariffs on imports of barley. Simon Birmingham, the Australian Trade Minister, has requested discussion on the trade issues with his Chinese counterpart. That request has not yet been met.