Australia renews concerns over coal ships stuck off China amid import quota uncertainty

The protracted standoff sees about 40 ships carrying coal of Australian origin still awaiting clearance at Chinese ports

• Trade war fallout: how reliant is Australia's economy on China?

The Morrison government has renewed its concerns with China over delays clearing dozens of ships carrying Australian coal, amid wider uncertainty over import quotas that will apply this year.

About 40 ships carrying coal of Australian origin were still awaiting clearance at Chinese ports as of 8 March - fewer than the more than 60 ships that were waiting in November - amid the protracted standoff.