Australian wine could be next in firing line from China over retaliation for Australia's insistence on Covid-19 inquiry
Australian wine could be one of the potential goods products to come under fire from China in retaliation for Australia’s insistence on an inquiry into China’s role in the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to a report in Bloomberg, Chinese officials are said to have drawn up a list of goods including wine, diary, seafood and fruit that could be subject to stricter quality controls, tariffs or custom delays. Chinese state media could also urge consumer boycotts.
Australia is heavily dependent on trade with China, but has infuriated Beijing by calling for an investigation into the origins of the pandemic. President Xi Jinping has a history of using trade as a diplomatic weapon, with Japan, Taiwan and South Korea all experiencing recent reprisals.
The Asian nation has already banned meat imports from four Australian slaughter houses on technical grounds, and placed tariffs of over 80% on Australian barley earlier this week. Additional moves will now be dependent on how Australia reacts to China’s objectsions, though Beijing has no intention of publicly acknowledging any connection between its trade actions and the demand for an inqury into the virus.
China’s foreign ministry said the government “has always sought to find common ground while putting differences aside, cooperate to achieve win-win results and will not harm others to benefit oneself.”
“We hope the Australian and Chinese side can meet in the middle, take more measures to improve bilateral relations and deepen mutual trust, and provide favorable conditions and atmosphere for practical cooperation in various areas,” the ministry said.
Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said his government would continue to work in tandem with China to maintain commitments made under their free-trade agreement.
“Australia notes recent statements from Chinese spokespeople emphasizing the mutual benefits that flow from our trading relationship. We share those sentiments and will continue to work with China to uphold the commitments we both made under” the nations’ free-trade accord.