China knew barley dumping claims were false

Original article by Andrew Taylor, Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 20-May-20

The federal government will hold crisis talks with barley growers on 20 May following China’s imposition of a punitive tariff, but Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says the nation will not retaliate with a trade war. The government is likely to take the matter to the World Trade Organisation, although it remains hopeful of resolving the dispute bilaterally. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the government’s submission to China’s Commerce Ministry noted that China International Chamber of Commerce officials had admitted that there was no evidence to support claims of dumping by Australian barley producers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, CHINA. MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, CHINA INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

China imposes 80.5 per cent barley tariffs on Australian firms from Tuesday

Original article by
The New Daily – Page: Online : 19-May-20

The decision by China’s Commerce Ministry to impose anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties totalling 80.5 per cent on Australian barley has been described as "deeply disappointing" by Trade Minister Simon Birmingham. He denies that Australia has subsidised or dumped barley that was exported to China. The decision takes effect from 19 May and is tipped to virtually put an end to Australia’s barley exports to China, which are worth between $1.5bn and $2bn a year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, CHINA. MINISTRY OF COMMERCE

Birmingham: Tit-for-tat tariffs not on

Original article by Phillip Coorey, John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 14-May-20

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says China should appeal to the World Trade Organization if it is still unhappy about Australia’s decision in 2014 to impose a tariff on Chinese steel imports. He contends that China should not seek to resolve an anti-dumping dispute by imposing its own tariff on Australian barley, describing such actions as unjustified. Birmingham adds that there is no evidence to support China’s claim that Australian barley is being subsidised.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

China cereal killer threat

Original article by Phillip Coorey, Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-May-20

China is threatening to impose tariffs of over 80 per cent on Australian barley, with the federal government given 10 days to argue why they should not be imposed. China’s threat comes after an 18-month investigation into allegations that Australia was dumping its barley in China. Farmers and grain grower groups have consistently maintained the investigation was politically motivated, while Australia has not ruled out the possibility of taking China to the World Trade Organisation over the dispute. The Chinese market was worth just under $600 million to Australian barley farmers in 2019.

CORPORATES
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION