Who started Australia-China tensions?
Updated: Dec 10, 2020
Warwick Powell | 鲍韶山 | CEO, Beefledger
While ABC News talks about "China's attack on Australian trade", once again the reportage fails to mention the plethora of actions Australia has taken during the first half of 2020 in relation to trade sanctions against Chinese imports, creating a misleading context of understanding. Here’s a summary chronology to end Oct.
17 Feb Australia imposes dumping duties on Chinese aluminium extrusions
28 Feb Australia imposes dumping duties on stainless steel sinks
31 Mar Australia imposes dumping duties on pipe & tubular steel
16 Apr Australia imposes dumping investigation on A4 copy paper
21 Apr Australia starts probe into the origins of COVID-19
11 May In return, China bans 4 Australian meat processing plants
13 May Australia continues to impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese silicon metal
18 May China imposes 80.5% tariff on Australian barley exports
27 May Australia initiates anti-dumping investigation on steel strapping
30 Jun Australia initiates anti-dumping investigation on Al-Zn coated steel
10 Jul Australia initiates anti-dumping investigation on steel reinforcing bars
13 Jul Australia initiates anti-dumping investigation on Copper tubes
27 Jul Australia initiates anti-dumping investigation on Steel coils
18 Aug In return, China starts anti-dumping investigation on Australian wines (18 Aug),
25 Aug A Chinese company fails to acquire Kirin, blocked by the Australian govt
31 Aug China starts investigation into subsidised Australian wine imports
31 Aug China halts barley import from Australia
13 Oct Reports that Chinese customs officials have informally told state-owned steelmakers and power plants to stop Aussie coal.
In case there was any doubt, let’s be clear: Australia has been a prolific user of anti dumping measures - for example, this article. This is a different issue to whether the measures are warranted or not. The extensive use of these measures and the disproportionate targeting of products from one country is a matter of fact.