The trade minister told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday that Australia reserves its right to take China to the World Trade Organisation, and revealed he is still yet to hear back from his Chinese counterpart about the growing trade dispute. He said his call “ought to be returned”.
After Australia called for an independent investigation into the origins of Covid-19, the Chinese ambassador in Australia, Cheng Jingye, threatened a consumer boycott against Australian goods.
Since then, China has raised an 18-month-old dispute relating to Australia’s barley exports and imposed a ban on beef from four abattoirs.
On Sunday Birmingham said that he can understand why – given the ambassador’s “very unhelpful remarks” – links have been drawn and questions asked about whether the issues are related.
But Birmingham said Australia will “take at face value” China’s claims the trade disputes are genuine and respond in good faith.
“Our government has now lodged a comprehensive response in Beijing to the Chinese authorities in relation to their claims of dumping of barley in the Chinese market,” he said.
