Quarrel about wine production: Australia quotes China in a WTO court

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Vineyards in the Australian Yarra Valley: WTO should arbitrate

Photo: chrissmith731 / iStockphoto / Getty Images

The Australian government has filed a formal complaint with the WTO about China's anti-dumping duties on Australian wine.

"The government will continue to vigorously defend the interests of Australian winemakers using the WTO's established system to resolve our differences," said Dan Tehan, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, in a press release released on Saturday morning.

"Australia remains open to working directly with China to solve this problem."

Australia's diplomatic ties with China, its largest trading partner, have deteriorated since Canberra called for an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus.

Beijing reciprocated with various trade sanctions, including the introduction of import duties on wine.

Australian winemakers delivered wine worth the equivalent of nine million US dollars to China in the four months from December to March.

For the previous year, the statistics show a good 240 million dollars.

Experts are convinced that the high tariffs are the main reason for this.

mik / Reuters