<p>Citrus exports to China are expected to surge now that Australia has been granted official access to the Chinese market. </p> <p>Federal trade minister Mark Vaile announced the fruit deal with China after talks last week.</p> <p>Chinese technical quarantine work should be finished in the next few months, in time for this year’s export season. </p> <p>Around $45m worth of Australian citrus enters China each year illegally through Hong Kong, making the southern Chinese port Australia’s biggest citrus export market.</p> <p>However, crackdowns by China at the border have halved export volumes, making formal export access critical, Australian Citrus Growers spokeswoman Judith Damiani told the ABC. </p> <br />
