❓ Hon Jim Chown questions the Minister for Regional Development regarding discussions on China's anti-dumping investigation into Australian barley imports during a visit to China. The Minister acknowledges the seriousness of the issue and outlines efforts to address it.
AnsweredQoN 300Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BARLEY EXPORTS
300. Hon JIM CHOWN to the Minister for Regional Development:
An
earlier media release on the minister's recent visit to China to attend
the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference stated that regional Western Australia's
export capabilities in agriculture, renewable hydrogen and technical metals
would be on the agenda.
(1) Did the
minister discuss China's anti-dumping investigation into Australian
barley imports with Chinese officials?
(2) If yes to (1), what was the
outcome of those discussions?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
(4) How would Chinese anti-dumping
legislation, if initiated, affect this state's barley exports?
300. Hon JIM CHOWN to the Minister for Regional Development:
An
earlier media release on the minister's recent visit to China to attend
the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference stated that regional Western Australia's
export capabilities in agriculture, renewable hydrogen and technical metals
would be on the agenda.
(1) Did the
minister discuss China's anti-dumping investigation into Australian
barley imports with Chinese officials?
(2) If yes to (1), what was the
outcome of those discussions?
(3) If no to (1), why not?
(4) How would Chinese anti-dumping
legislation, if initiated, affect this state's barley exports?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
member for the question.
(1)–(4) This
is a delicate issue, and one that I have raised with the Chinese Consul General
on several occasions. Indeed, we sought meetings with the Ministry of Commerce
about this issue, after having had discussions with the Minister for Trade,
Tourism and Investment, Simon Birmingham. However, at the Boao forum it simply
was not possible to engage with the relevant Chinese department on this issue.
I had several discussions about the matter with the then Australian Ambassador
to China, Ms Jan Adams, and other members of the Australian embassy team.
This is a very serious issue for Western
Australia. Western Australia produces 60 per cent of Australia's barley
exports, 80 per cent of which go to China. We do not have the official data
yet, but in the last year they are probably in excess of $800 million. It is
certainly our biggest agricultural export to China; it is bigger than wheat or
oats. This is definitely an issue for a number of reasons. The Australian
government, the Western Australian government and the industry are working
extremely hard to resolve this issue. There is some thought that it might be
inspired by the many anti-dumping cases Australia has taken against China.
Another line of argument is that the Chinese government is looking to encourage
exports from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, such as
Kazakhstan. These are all very delicate issues and we are doing our best to
ensure that we mount every possible response to the anti-dumping case that is
underway.
member for the question.
(1)–(4) This
is a delicate issue, and one that I have raised with the Chinese Consul General
on several occasions. Indeed, we sought meetings with the Ministry of Commerce
about this issue, after having had discussions with the Minister for Trade,
Tourism and Investment, Simon Birmingham. However, at the Boao forum it simply
was not possible to engage with the relevant Chinese department on this issue.
I had several discussions about the matter with the then Australian Ambassador
to China, Ms Jan Adams, and other members of the Australian embassy team.
This is a very serious issue for Western
Australia. Western Australia produces 60 per cent of Australia's barley
exports, 80 per cent of which go to China. We do not have the official data
yet, but in the last year they are probably in excess of $800 million. It is
certainly our biggest agricultural export to China; it is bigger than wheat or
oats. This is definitely an issue for a number of reasons. The Australian
government, the Western Australian government and the industry are working
extremely hard to resolve this issue. There is some thought that it might be
inspired by the many anti-dumping cases Australia has taken against China.
Another line of argument is that the Chinese government is looking to encourage
exports from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, such as
Kazakhstan. These are all very delicate issues and we are doing our best to
ensure that we mount every possible response to the anti-dumping case that is
underway.
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