NSW Farmers is deeply disappointed with the announcement by China to place punitive tariffs on Australian barley exports to China.
China is Australia’s largest barley export market and Australia is the largest supplier of barley to China. This disruption causes ongoing market uncertainty when growers are in the middle of planting, and will place significant downward pressure on barley prices offered to Australian growers.
80 per cent of barley exports to China are from Western Australia and while most of the NSW crop is consumed domestically, we remain concerned about the closure of a valuable international market and uncertainty for growers.
NSW Farmers calls on the Australian Government to support Australia’s farmers and exporters by engaging with China to resolve the issue and to immediately pursue the WTO Dispute Settlement process to the fullest extent possible.
We very much hope a timely and amical resolution can be agreed including the removal of duties to enable trade to be re-established, for the benefit of industries in both countries.
