Why Chinese tariff relief may come too late for the Mallee

China is reviewing tariffs on Australian barley imports in a move welcomed by Australia, but Mallee farmers believe it may come too late for them. Read why.

Mildura farmers hope a three-month review into Chinese tariffs on Australian-grown barley will offer them some relief.

The Chinese government in 2020 introduced an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley after it claimed it was cheaply dumped on its market.

The decision cut more than $60 a tonne off Australian exports and left farmers reeling.

Farmers hope the tariff could soon be lifted but northwest barley farmer Julia Hausler feared it may be too late for the Mallee.

She feared the change could mean farmers lose a fourth year of trade.

China may be reducing taxes on Australian barley, however these reductions may come too late for farmers in the Mallee. Photographer: David Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Northwest Victorian farmer Julia Hausler lost nearly 20 per cent of her crop’s value after the Chinese barley tariff was introduced.

Ms Hausler said while the tariffs were only being reviewed, Victorian farmers were currently deciding whether to plant more barley in the hopes the tariffs would be revoked.

“We’re sowing right now so it’s time critical, we have to make a decision now to put more barley in and hope the tariffs get revoked, Ms Hausler, who is also the director of Grain Growers Limited, said.

“Some growers see this as a positive sign that the countries are talking to each other and making some planting decisions, but the actual timing of the decision will be well after the crops are in the ground. ”

Australian barley exports to China peaked at 6.3m tonnes in 2016-17 and the introduction of the tariffs for five years crippled the $1.5bn a year trade.

She said the tariffs had resulted in lost income for farmers and this had impacted the whole community.

“There was income lost for growers across the region and there are losses to the town because there is less money to go around,” she said.

Federal MP for the Mallee Dr Anne Webster said Australian growers needed a market that was both reliable and open.

“China is an incredibly important trading partner for us and the removal of these tariffs would be a positive step for our growers,” Dr Webster said.

“Australian farmers and producers deserve a reliable market to export to so hopefully this review will see that eventuate.”

It is hoped the tariff review for barley would allow a similar process to be followed for Australian wine.