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In a government investigation into Australian grain exports, China found that Australian subsidies and dumping “caused significant damage to the country’s industry,” the trade ministry said in a statement.
On Tuesday, an anti-dumping duty of 73.6 percent and an anti-subsidy duty of 6.9 percent will enter into force on barley imported from Australia.
Last week, China suspended imports from four major Australian beef suppliers amid tensions between the two countries over Canberra’s efforts to uncover the origin of the coronavirus.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry denied the link between restrictions on trade with Australia and the investigation, saying they were “two completely different things.”
Still, Beijing Ambassador Cheng Jingye told The Australian Financial Review last month that Australia’s push for an independent investigation could spark a boycott of Chinese consumers.
“Chinese society is upset, sad, and frustrated with the way Australia behaves,” said Cheng Jingye.
He added: “People decide for themselves. Perhaps ordinary people will say, “Why should we drink Australian wine? Eat Australian beef?
The Chinese ministry said it decided on Monday to impose tariffs, which would last for five years, after an investigation based on “relevant Chinese laws and regulations of the World Trade Organization.”
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