The Joint Statement was a key outcome of last week’s visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and is estimated to be worth in excess of $400 million per year for Australia’s meat industry.

Mr Hartsuyker said the Joint Statement on Enhancing Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation could “bring a range of benefits for the NSW North Coast farmers”.

“I am very pleased to see this next development in Australia’s relationship with China, one of our most important trading partners,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“China is Australia’s largest sheep meat market, worth $240 million in 2016, and is our fourth largest beef market worth $670 million in the same year.

“The Joint Statement will unlock a number of trade restrictions currently in place, allowing the expansion of the chilled meat trade, an increase in the number of approved exporters, access for tripe exports and new trade in donkey meat and edible skins to China.

“The Statement will also promote a protocol for the export of Australian slaughter sheep and goats.

“It is also a great outcome for our Chinese counterparts and will support both countries’ focus on promoting food security and safety and ensuring continued access to safe, high quality and reliable produce.”

The news the live export trade is set to expand has Animals Australia furious. 

“Every year millions of Australian cattle, sheep and goats are sent overseas — to countries where there are rarely any local laws to protect them from cruelty,” a Animals Australia spokesperson said.

“Thousands of these animals don’t survive the sea journey, and investigations have shown that those who do disembark alive can face appalling cruelty. 

“Conditions on board live export ships are inherently stressful for the animals. Constant rolling motion, extremes of temperature, the risk of mechanical breakdown, injuries from hard concrete and metal decks, and journeys that often last weeks at sea all increase the risks for animals and contribute to unnecessary suffering.

“Once Australian animals reach their overseas destination, they can be handled and slaughtered by workers who are often frightened, ill equipped and poorly trained.

“Australian government regulations — which don't even require that animals exported live are stunned before slaughter — are utterly failing to protect animals from cruelty overseas, while policing the live export system is left to a charity.

“Again and again over the past decade, Animals Australia investigators have documented terrible abuse of Australian animals exported live — abuse that the government wouldn't even be aware of if it wasn’t for our evidence and legal complaints.”