Weekly trade review provided by Chatto Creek Advisory Pty.
Chatto Creek Advisory Pty Ltd is a Melbourne-based strategic consultancy specializing in trade policy advice and government engagement strategy. It is headed by Russell Scoular, an executive with rich government relations, trade policy and business experience throughout Asia Pacific.
CHINA INVESTIGATES AUSTRALIAN WINE
The Ministry of Commerce has begun an anti-dumping inquiry into wine imported from Australia. The inquiry is expected to take a year and will look at wine imports in 2019. China is Australia’s biggest export wine market with current annual shipments of approx. $1 billion.
MINISTER TROUBLED BY CHINA’S ACTION
Trade Minister Birmingham has described China’s anti-dumping inquiry as “deeply troubling and quite perplexing.” He said the Government would work with the wine industry, which had worked hard to establish a reputation for excellence, to defend the allegations.
WINE INDUSTRY REACTS CAUTIOUSLY
Australian Grape & Wine, the industry’s national association, said the industry was well-placed to respond to the inquiry and would cooperate fully. Treasury Wine Estates, Australia’s largest wine exporter to China, said it had a long and respectful relationship with China.
AUSTRALIAN WHEAT GLUTEN FACES ANTI-DUMPING CLAIM
Canada has begun an anti-dumping inquiry into wheat gluten imported from Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany and Lithuania. This follows a complaint by a Quebec producer. Wheat gluten is used in food like bread, cereals, pasta and noodles.
ASEAN & CANADA TO EXPLORE FTA
ASEAN and Canada have agreed to explore the possibility of an FTA. This follows a 17 th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue where a new Plan of Action was agreed for ministerial consideration. Canada has been reaching out in recent years to boost trade and strategic links with ASEAN.
CHINA EXTENDS INDIAN TARIFF
The Ministry of Commerce has announced a five-year extension of anti-dumping duties on single-mode optical fibre from India. This follows an expiry review. The anti- dumping duties of between 7.4% and 30.6% were first applied in 2014 following complaints by Chinese industry.
AUSTRALIA SEEKING INPUT ON VIETNAMESE STRATEGY
The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade is seeking suggestions from business on how best to enhance trade between Australia and Vietnam. Prime Ministers Morrison and Nguyen agreed in 2019 to develop an enhanced economic engagement strategy.
US FLAGS TOUGHER TRADE LAWS
The Commerce Department has issued draft new rules to modify anti-dumping and anti-subsidy enforcement. The rules will streamline circumvention inquiries, create rules for assisting Customs with evasion inquiries and stop foreign companies from abusing new shipper reviews.
MALAYSIA IMPLEMENTS INTERIM STEEL TARIFFS
Malaysia has announced interim anti-dumping duties of up to 37% on a range of flat-rolled steel products from China, South Korea and Vietnam. The duties will apply for 120 days. It follows a petition by a Malaysian operating arm of Australia’s Bluescope Steel.
EUROPEAN UNION HIKES CAMBODIAN TARIFFS
The European Union has withdrawn tariff concessions on a range of goods imported from Cambodia because of human rights concerns. The tariff hike covers 20 per cent of Cambodian exports to the EU and includes goods such as garments, footwear and travel goods.
