Australia and China’s barley deal over tariffs is an 11th-hour off-ramp after years of trade tensions

Australia has agreed to pause its World Trade Organization complaint on Chinese tariffs in return for an ‘expedited review’ that may result in them being lifted. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Australian government is taking a gamble by pressing pause on its formal complaint against China’s hefty tariffs on barley at the 11th hour.

But ministers appear to see this as a risk worth taking in the hope of solving one of the most intractable elements of the wider dispute between Australia and its largest trading partner.