The Chinese Government Has Imposed Additional Tariffs On Australian Wine

The Chinese Government Has Imposed Additional Tariffs On Australian Wine

The Chinese government has imposed additional tariffs on Australian wine, exacerbating the diplomatic conflict over the coronavirus pandemic, territorial disputes and other sensitive issues. China, Australia's largest export market, has previously created barriers to imports of Australian wine, barley, beef and other goods after the Australian government expressed support for investigating the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. China's Ministry of Commerce said that an investigation launched in August concluded that Australia was wrongly subsidizing wine exports, harming Chinese producers. The ministry said importers would have to pay a deposit of 6.3 to 6.4 percent from Friday. This is in excess of the more than 200% of previously imposed tariffs on Australian wine. Beijing is increasingly using access to its market as a tool to gain concessions from its neighbors and to increase its strategic influence. Chinese leaders have been angered by Australia's decision to join Asian and US governments in challenging China's claim to most of the South China Sea, one of the world's busiest trade routes.