Friday, 27 Nov 2020 12:21 PM MYT
SYDNEY, Nov 27 — Australia will move to protect its multi-billion-dollar wine industry from punitive new Chinese tariffs, its agriculture minister said today, raising the threat of World Trade Organisation counter-measures. Within hours wine importers will have to pay deposits of 107.1 per cent to 212.1 per cent, in response to “substantive harm” China said was caused by allegedly mispriced Australian products.
“We’re deeply concerned by this,” he added. “In light of the recent comments by China, it gives the perception this decision is predicated on something other than any wrongdoing by the wine industry.”