Australia taking China to trade watchdog over wine tariffs

The Australian Federal Government has confirmed it is taking China to the World Trade Organisation over the anti-dumping duties it has imposed on Australian wine.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations.

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Hefty tariffs of up to 212 per cent have been put on wine from Australia by Chinese authorities.

Trade Minister Dan Tehan is expected to speak shortly.

Australian wine exports to China collapsed to just $12 million in the four months that ended on March 31 from $325 million in the same period a year earlier.

Last month, figures from industry body Wine Australia revealed for the year to March, said the total value of Australian global wine exports dropped to $2.77 billion, a decline of four per cent compared with the year before.

This was mainly caused by "the toll taken by high Chinese tariffs", the document said.

The WHO says its main function "is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible."