Australia takes China to WTO over its trade sanctions on Australian wines
Coalition says despite going to the World Trade Organization it ‘remains open to engaging directly with Beijing to resolve the issue’
Australia is formally filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization over China's anti-dumping activities in Australia, the provincial government said on Saturday.
The decision follows "extensive consultation with Australian winemakers", he said, adding: "Australia is still open to working directly with China to resolve the issue."(ads2)
The move is the latest in a string of escalating trade and communications between Australia and its main trading partner, following Prime Minister Scott Morrison's warnings that his government would respond to countries trying to use "economic coercion" to combat it.
The move comes just days after the G7 summit, which echoed Australia's call for a stronger approach to China's trade practices and a stronger global position.
Morrison attended the summit as part of a G7-plus formula that also brought together leaders from South Korea, South Africa and India.
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Beijing has imposed severe economic sanctions on a variety of Australian products in recent months, including taxes or disruptions on all sectors of agriculture, coal, wine and tourism.
Many in the Coalition believe the measures are a punishment for backtracking on Beijing's influence in Australia, rejecting Chinese investment in critical areas, and calling for a public inquiry into the origin of the coronavirus epidemic.
Australia has already transferred Beijing to the WTO with its Australian barley prices.
Trade Minister Dan Tehan said the decision was in line with previous WTO government spending and was in line with Australia's support for the legal system.(ads1)
Tehan said last month the government was looking into whether it would address its complaint against China by imposing large quantities of wine, an act that has almost been exported.
"We have always said that we will take a formal approach in the face of these conflicts, and if we think our industry has been damaged or damaged we will take all necessary steps and steps to try to rectify that," he told ABC.
Asked whether Beijing's retaliation for those actions was part of the government's agenda, Tehan said China and all other countries were using the WTO's conflict resolution approach.
“This is a normal course of action to deal with these conflicts,” he said.
"So what we want to do is make sure we have a very strong legal case that we can take to the World Trade Organization, because obviously when you take a case, you want to do everything you can to try to win it."
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