Trade minister calls for completion of anti dumping probe into Australian barley

The Australian Trade Minister has called for the investigation into the barley dumping scandal to be finished quickly.

TRADE Minister Simon Birmingham has urged China to complete its anti-dumping investigation into Australian barley as soon as possible.

Mr Birmingham this week said Australia was frustrated by the ongoing process, which he maintained had no basis.

China announced earlier this month that it would be extending its investigation, which began in November last year, to May next year.

“We urge for its conclusion as quickly as possible because it’s very important, not just for our barley producers but also for Chinese businesses who rely upon Australian product,” Mr Birmingham said.

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The Minister’s comments come at a time of renewed tensions between Australia and China over the asylum claim of a Chinese man who says he worked as a spy in Hong Kong before defecting and claims this week that a Chinese spy ring tried to install an agent in federal parliament.

He acknowledged concerns about delays in processing permit applications by Australian beef abattoirs and processors.

“It’s not holding back the amount that’s going in, but there are these administrative bugbears that we have raised directly with Chinese authorities,” he said.