China-Australia relations: Beijing ‘erred’ and ‘failed’ on wine, Canberra says in formal WTO complaint

Move involves China’s duties on Australian wine and marks the second dispute Canberra has launched at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Beijing in just over six months

Both sides have 60 days to confer, and a WTO dispute panel may be set up if they fail to do so

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Australian wines, displayed here at a shop in Beijing, are at the centre of a new World Trade Organization complaint filed by Canberra. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:50pm, 29 Jun 2021Updated: 8:28am, 30 Jun 2021

Australia has formally filed its complaint to the World Trade Organization over China’s duties on bottled wine imports, the WTO said on Monday, confirming earlier intentions expressed by Canberra.

The dispute is the second that Australia has launched at the global trade body against China as bilateral relations have deteriorated to their lowest level in decades. The first, launched in December, concerns China’s barley import duties, and the WTO is currently looking into the case in a newly set up dispute panel.

“Australia has requested WTO dispute consultations with China concerning anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures imposed by China on imports of bottled wine from Australia,” the WTO statement says, noting that the request was circulated among WTO members on Monday.

The latest “request for consultations” filed at the WTO in Geneva gives both sides 60 days to confer. If they fail to agree, a WTO dispute panel may be set up.

“Australia claims the measures in question appear to be inconsistent with various provisions under the WTO’s Anti-Dumping Agreement, the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994,” the statement says.

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