Australia must hold urgent talks with China to exempt coal producers from new tariffs in a free trade agreement due to be completed this year, an industry body said, following China's move to reintroduce coal tariffs after nearly a decade.

The outlook for thermal coal import demand in China, the world's largest importer, is weak, rating agency Fitch said in its latest industry report.

BEIJING - The Chinese government on Monday vowed to reform tax on coal.

The Chinese government's decision to ban imports of lower quality coal, or "dirty" coal, from 2015 could affect a major portion of Australia's coal exports to China, experts said on Tuesday.

Winter for China's coal mine industry may be longer and more severe than expected as a third coal mine behemoth announced plans on Monday to reduce production amid plunging prices.

Coal production in Inner Mongolia, China's major coal reserve, slumped 7.4 percent in the first seven months of 2014 year on year, local coal safety authorities said on Wednesday.

China's top economic planner has banned the sale and import of high-ash and high-sulfur coal from September 1, it announced on Aug 6th.

U.S. utilities are importing more coal from countries like Colombia, Russia and Indonesia in 2014 to hedge against poor railroad service, fulfill unique blends and, in an alarming trend for Central Appalachia coal producers, because it is less expensive than b...