China-Australia relations: Canberra to ‘robustly defend’ itself in WTO case after Beijing escalates tariff dispute
- The World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed to establish a dispute-settlement panel to address Beijing’s complaint against Australia
- Australia imposed anti-dumping tariffs on imports of wind towers, stainless steel sinks and railway wheels between 2014 and 2019
Australia will “robustly defend” itself in its World Trade Organization (WTO) case with China over Canberra’s decision to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of wind towers, stainless steel sinks and railway wheels, which will now be heard before a dispute-settlement panel.
Beijing has since June been urging Canberra to rethink three anti-dumping tariffs Australia imposed on its exports between 2014 and 2019.
China and Australia had held meetings in August, but these consultations failed to resolve the dispute.
In requesting arbitration, Beijing said the Australian tariffs violated the WTO’s trading rules and anti-dumping and anti-subsidy regulations between 2014 and 2020.
The ability to take legitimate remedial action against dumped and subsidised imports forms part of the critical balance of members’ rights and obligations provided under the WTO rules.
“Australia will robustly defend this matter before a WTO panel,” Australian trade minister Dan Tehan said.