Australia requests review of Italy's block of vaccine export

Italian government said the 250,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine must be kept in EU

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Australia has asked the EU to review Italy's decision to block the export of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to its shores, as the French government said it too could impose bans in the future.

The ban - the first such use of the controversial new power - was brought up during a discussion between Australia's trade minister Dan Tehan and his European commission counterpart Valdis Dombrovskis on Friday.