China has launched an anti-dumping probe into imports of Australian barley - accounting for more than two thirds of the latter’s annual exports of the grain. The decision comes after Canberra moved to expand its naval base on Manus island, off Papua New Guinea, in a bid to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
China accounted for A$1.2bn ($877m) annually, or more than 67 per cent of Australia’s barley exports on average during the four years through 2016/17, according to figures from the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre, an industry group.
China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Monday it had launched the year-long probe in response to an application by the China International Chamber of Commerce made on behalf of domestic barley producers and lodged on October 9.