Australia to Suspend WTO Case on Chinese Barley Tariffs, Beijing to Review Duties
Australia will pause its World Trade Organization case against China on barley for three months while Beijing reviews its restrictions, Australia announced this week. China placed 80.5% duties on Australian barley in 2020. The parties recently carried out "constructive dialogue at all levels," leading to a three- to four-month reprieve in the WTO case, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said April 11.
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"If the duties are not lifted at the end of the review period, Australia will resume the dispute in the WTO," Wong said. "The WTO trade disputes system encourages bilateral resolution where possible." China's Ministry of Commerce said it is willing to work with Australia to "properly resolve economic and trade disputes," according to an unofficial translation.
Tariffs were imposed on Australian exports of barley and wine in 2020 after then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. The duties spiked to over 80% after China accused Australia of dumping the grain into China.