China has emerged victorious in a lengthy dispute with Australia at the World Trade Organization regarding tariffs on steel products. The conflict, which spanned nearly three years, originated during a period of strained relations between the two nations. The dispute centered around Australia's imposition of additional duties on railway wheels, wind towers, and stainless steel sinks imported from China, with trade in these products amounting to 62 million Australian dollars in 2022.
A WTO panel in Geneva, Switzerland, recently ruled in favor of China, citing inconsistencies in Australia's Anti-Dumping Commission's actions with certain articles of the anti-dumping agreement. Australia's Trade Minister confirmed the government's acceptance of the WTO's decision and reiterated its commitment to a rules-based trading system.
The Trade Minister stated that Australia would engage with China and take necessary steps to implement the panel's findings. Despite past trade tensions, Australia remains dedicated to upholding a fully functioning WTO dispute settlement system to ensure the enforcement of rights and obligations among all WTO members.
In recent years, trade tariffs have been a contentious issue between Beijing and Canberra, particularly following China's imposition of sanctions on Australian goods in 2020. While most of the tariffs have been lifted as relations improved, certain tariffs on products like wine, rock lobster, and select abattoirs persist.
Australia's efforts to mend relations with China have included suspending a WTO complaint to reopen the Chinese market to Australian barley, a product heavily impacted by the tariffs. Additionally, the Australian government paused another WTO dispute against China concerning sanctions on Australian wine, valued at approximately 1.1 billion Australian dollars, in exchange for a review by China to be completed by the end of March.
