China's Ministry of Commerce launched an anti-dumping investigation against Australian wine in mid-August. (Image of Advertiser)
The Australian Financial Review said Chinese importers are urging Australian wine makers to ship their goods to China within the next week amid growing concerns that the Chinese would impose a $1.2 billion tariff on Australian wines as early as Sunday.
Although the Chinese government has yet to signal that tariffs will be imposed, the industry has spread that China may move ahead. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), China's first time to initiate a tax on Australian wine was on October 18,60 days after it launched an anti-dumping investigation.
"Chinese importers are nervous about imposing tariffs and are demanding that products be brought in ahead of time ," said Battag (Tony Battaglene), and Wine Association, an industry group. "
"But I don't expect this to happen. As far as we know, there is no basis. "
17 August, China's Ministry of Commerce said after receiving a complaint from the China Wine Industry Association that Australian winemakers were dumping products in China and receiving subsidies, Announced the initiation of anti-dumping investigation against 10 Australian wine producers. Pan Fu (Penfolds) producer Fuyi Wine Group, Casella Wine (Casella Wines), The prestigious wine industry, Australian wines (Australian Vintage), Royal Castle Winery (Yalumba), South Australia Wine Group (South Australian Wine Group), Wine Company (The Wine Company), truffles and Wine Company (Truffle &) are among the Wine), Wingara Wine Group (Wingara Wine Group) and Stonius Winery (Stoney Rise) were all included in the investigation list.
The China Wine Association believes that Australian wine dumping is as high as 202.7 percent. Oliver (Shane Oliver), chief economic of security capital (AMP Capital), said that if Australian wine was taxed, its prices in China would rise sharply.
But Mr. Bhattag said that while some in the industry are prepared for the worst, he has not received any signal that China will take action at the earliest time when the tax can be started. The second time to trigger the tax is on November 16, when Australian winemakers will submit a questionnaire to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
The wine industry is not confident that the anti the anti-dumping investigation will yield positive results after similar investigations on barley and restrictions on beef exports to China.
Morrison (Scott Morrison) goverment and wine makers both denied dumping accusation.
Some of the Australian wine producers named for investigation have registered to attend the China Annual Import Expo in Shanghai in November.
Fu Ying, the former Chinese ambassador to Australia, spoke softly about the Australian-Chinese relationship two weeks ago, the Australian Financial Review said. However, tensions between Australia and China have increased again this week after news of China's restrictions on imports of Australian coal and the imminent trial of detained Chinese-American writer Yang Hengjun.
