Simon Birmingham slams China barley delay

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has attacked China’s decision to extend its inquiry into Australian barley imports.

Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has attacked China’s decision to extend its inquiry into Australian barley imports, calling the move “deeply disappointing”.

Senator Birmingham said there was “compelling evidence” to reject claims Australian barley producers were dumping their products in China.

Beijing announced on Friday its anti-dumping investigation into Australian barley would be extended to May.

China is the largest export market for Australian barley.

“This deferral of a decision is deeply disappointing given the compelling evidence provided by Australia during this investigation clearly refute the claims made,” Senator Birmingham said.

“Our high-quality Australian barley producers operate without any trade distorting subsidies and in an entirely commercial way.

“While we respect China’s right to undertake investigations into anti-dumping matters their investigations should be concluded as soon as possible to remove any uncertainty for our industry and their Chinese partners. We continue to raise this matter at the highest levels to mount the strongest possible case to resolve this matter urgently and to uphold the integrity of our world-leading barley producers.”

China’s Ministry of Commerce blamed the delay on the “complexity of the case”.

Dumping is when exports are sold at a loss in the aim of forcing local producers to close. China ­initiated its anti-dumping investigation into Australian barley producers in November last year.

A statement expressing “concern” over the extension was ­issued by Grain Trade Australia, Grain Industry Market Access Forum, Australian Grain Exporters Council, GrainGrowers Limited and Grain Producers Australia: “The Australian barley industry has expressed concern with the announcement by the People’s Republic of China.

“Although the Australian grain industry is confident dumping has not occurred, the likely outcome of this anti-dumping ­investigation is unknown.

“This investigation has created uncertainty within the Australian grain market that has resulted in downward pressure on Australian barley prices.”