The decision of the Government of the People’s Republic of China to impose an 80 percent tariff on Australian barley is a bitter blow for our growers.
 
The charge that Australian barley growers are subsidised is simply untrue and the Government must make every resource available to prosecute the case on behalf of Australian farmers.
 
Few producers and growers doubt that China’s barley and meat processing actions are related to the deteriorating relationship between the two countries, a relationship which has been in decline for at least three years.
 
The situation isn’t helped by government backbenchers running the China debate. As former foreign minister Julie Bishop has said, we need some ‘very calm and considered diplomacy’. Whatever the reasons for these latest trade disruptions, the government needs to fix this issue for Australian farmers and processors.
 
The Government must show that it can defend our national interests while supporting Australian jobs - including helping Australian farmers secure markets for their exports.    
 
Labor would support a referral of this matter to the World Trade Organisation, the body set up to promote global free trade and to adjudicate disputes.
 
China is Australia’s largest export market for barley and the tariffs announced by Beijing could cost our industry $500 million per year. Labor calls on the Government to support our barley growers.