China has confirmed it will lift anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on Australian wine from March 29, ending three years of punitive levies and offering long-awaited relief to Australian wine producers.
In a statement by commerce ministry, the move follows the positive changes in China’s wine market, the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariff imposed on wine imported from Australia is no longer necessary.
Previously, Australian wines imported into China were subject to zero tariffs after the signing of a free trade agreement in 2015, but tariffs, of up to 218.4%, were imposed for a period of five years along with a host of other trade barriers on Australian commodities when ties soured after Canberra called for a probe into the origins of COVID-19.
Ties have improved significantly since last year, leading China to steadily lifting trade hurdles on Australian goods ranging from barley to coal, and raising hopes the punishing tariffs on shipments to Australia’s top wine export market would soon be removed.
