China-Australia relations: WTO action ‘the next step’ for Canberra over Beijing’s barley duties
- Australian trade minister Simon Birmingham makes his firmest commitment yet about taking legal action at the World Trade Organization (WTO)
- China slapped anti-dumping duties on Australian barley in May, followed by temporary duties on wine on Friday
The Australian government is “expecting” to bring a formal case against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over barley anti-dumping duties.
We are working through exactly when and making sure we have the evidence lined up
“I expect that will be the outcome,” Birmingham said in an interview with national broadcaster ABC when asked whether a WTO case against barley was in the pipeline.
“We are working through exactly when and making sure we have the evidence lined up.”
He said Australia outlined various concerns to the WTO’s trading goods committee last week, relating an “accumulation of instances from China of adverse trade decisions against Australia”.
He also said Australia had abided by a rules-based approach on matters such as foreign investment and China’s grievances about them were a reflection of how Beijing had changed.