(VOVWORLD) - Australia said on Friday said it would drop a case against China at the World Trade Organization, after Beijing lifted hefty tariffs on the country's barley exports starting Saturday.
 A barley field near Inverleigh, about 100 km from Melbourne, Australia (File photo: William West/AFP/Getty Images) |
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce “has ruled that it is no longer necessary to continue to impose anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties on imports of barley originating in Australia in view of changes in the Chinese barley market,” it said in a statement on Friday. No further details on these changes were provided.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Canberra welcomes the outcome, which paves the way for its barley exporters to re-enter the Chinese market – benefiting Australian producers and Chinese consumers.
In May 2020, China imposed tariffs on a series of key Australian export products such as barley, beef, and wine. Barley alone was subject to a tax of 80%. China also stopped importing other important Australian products such as coal, reducing billions of dollars in bilateral trade.