Australia files formal complaint about China over wine tariffs to WTO
Australia has lodged a formal complaint to the World Trade Organisation following China’s implementation of crippling tariffs on Australian wine last year. This will enable the country to “begin dispute consultation settlements, which actually is a bilateral discussion with China about the issues,” said Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne in an interview with ABC “We’ve seen duties of over 200% applied to Australian wine. We don’t believe that this is consistent with China’s obligations under the WTO. So that part of the process enables us to have that direct conversation," she added.
China claims that the tariffs were ramped up brecause of trading malpractice, which Australia denies, and the decision to take the dispute to the WTO was only made after extensive consultation with winemakers, according to the government.
“The government will continue to vigorously defend the interests of Australian winemakers using the established system in the WTO to resolve our differences,” said Dan Tehan, minister for trade, tourism and investment. Meanwhile, Tony Battaglene, the CEO of Australian Grape and Wine has has welcomed the announcement that the Australian Government is to initiate the dispute settlement process with the WTO. “We believe the Australian Government’s decision to initiate this process is the right call for Australia’s grape and wine businesses,” he said.