ZCZC
BCN-34
AUSTRALIA-INDIA-TRADE-TARIFF-WTO
Australia considering to challenge legality of Indian trade tariffs
CANBERRA, Aug. 2, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – The Australian government is
considering launching a World Trade Organization (WTO) challenge against
trade barriers imposed by India.
Speaking at an Australian Grains Industry conference on August 1, Trade
Minister Steven Ciobo described a series of trade tariffs imposed by India as
“profoundly disappointing developments.”
Since late 2017 the Indian government has introduced a 30 percent tariff
on the import of chickpeas and lentils, a 50 percent tariff on field peas and
doubled the tariff on wheat to 20 percent.
Ciobo said the government “was determined to vigorously defend” Australian
farmers.
“They have had, and will continue to have, an adverse impact on Australian
producers,” he told the conference.
“In my meetings with Indian counterparts I have stressed that Australia is
well placed to help meet India’s growing food needs. But Australian exporters
require certainty to enable further investment to expand and grow exports to
the Indian market.”
“While some of these trade actions are within WTO rules, there are real
doubts about other measures and we are working closely with industry and
other affected trading partners to evaluate the prospects for a successful
challenge.”
Ciobo also said he had reached out to the Trump administration for more
details on a 12 billion U.S. dollars agriculture assistance package announced
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in late July.
Under the program, farmers will be compensated for financial losses due to
new tariffs and the government will purchase excess commodities.
Australian farmers have expressed concerns over the packages, saying it
would harm them in the export market.
Ciobo said the package highlights the fact that escalating tariffs is a
vicious cycle.
BSS/XINHUA/HR/1210