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(CNN) – Politicians in several Western countries have asked consumers to buy Australian wine to fight China’s punitive tariffs on the drink.
China is the most important export market for Australian wine, and winemakers are scrambling to find new markets following Beijing’s decision to impose tariffs of up to 212% on Australian wine imports amid a growing trade war between the two nations.
Now, various public figures associated with the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), which calls itself “an international group of lawmakers working to reform democratic countries’ approach to China,” have called on consumers to stand up. Beijing.
“We ask everyone to join us in opposing the authoritarian harassment of Xi Jinping,” Miriam Lexmann, a member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing Christian Democrats, said in a video. posted on Twitter Tuesday.
“By drinking a bottle or two of Australian wine and letting the Chinese Communist Party know that we will not be intimidated,” added Elisabet Lann, city councilor for the Christian Democracy of Sweden.
Other politicians featured in the video include Australian MP Kimberley Kitching, US Senator Ted Yoho and Shiori Yamao, an independent member of the Japanese House of Representatives.
Tony Battaglene, chief executive of Australian Grape and Wine, a national association, said Beijing’s tariffs have jeopardized business with mainland China.
Battaglene works with some 800 wine producers in Australia who have “built their businesses” around exporting to China and now do not have a backup plan, he added.
“We were surprised, we were surprised,” Battaglene told CNN Business. “Given the scope of these interim tariffs, I mean they will essentially shut down Australian bottled wine, premium wine, in China. There is no way we can compete at those levels.”
China’s Commerce Ministry announced on Friday that its decision was made after finding preliminary evidence of dumping. Australian officials have bitterly protested the move, saying China has been unable to provide evidence.
The wine war unfolds in the context of further deterioration of relations. Australia has upset China this year by calling for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. Later, Beijing targeted Canberra over trade, specifically by suspending some beef imports and applying heavy tariffs on barley.
This story was first published on CNN.com. Politicians urge people to buy Australian wine in defiance of China
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