China has lifted its import bans on five major Australian beef producers with immediate effect, the Australian government said Thursday, amid improving ties between Canberra and Beijing. Eight beef processing facilities have had suspensions on their exports to China lifted, while two facilities remain suspended, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Trade Minister Don Farrell and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said in a joint statement. China, Australia’s largest trading partner, imposed a raft of trade sanctions on Australian goods in 2020 after then Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an indep…