Barley tariff ‘not related to COVID-19 probe’

National Farmers Federation CEO Tony Mahar says China's tariff on Australian barley is not in any way related to the government’s push for a coronavirus investigation. China imposed an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley this week, prompting many to draw a line between the tax and the Australian government’s push for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. Despite it being “an easy line to draw”, Mr Mahar said China’s decision to impose the tariff was the result of an 18-month long case. “This is not a new issue, it’s been bubbling away for 18 months,” he said. With trade tensions escalating, Mr Mahar said he was “acutely aware” of speculation China could impose economic sanctions on other Australian industries. “We’re always conscious of any disruptions to trade in an export dominated industry like agriculture where we export two thirds of what we produce, and a third of that goes to China,” he said. Despite tensions, the National Farmers Federation CEO insisted China was “a key market for us and we want it to be a key market going forward”. Mr Mahar urged government ministers to keep lines of communication open with their Chinese counterparts, "continue the diplomacy and get the balance right". "There's always tensions in global trade, the challenge is to make sure there is as little disruption and volatility in that trade as possible," he said.

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