Chinese tariffs on Australian wine under WTO investigation

China's tariffs on Australian wine imports will be examined by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) amid ongoing icy relations between Canberra and Beijing.

In a meeting overnight, the global trade umpire agreed to Australia's request to scrutinise the tariffs, The South China Morning Post reports.

China - traditionally the biggest market for Australian wine growers - slapped a 220 per cent tariff on exports last year.

READ MORE: Rent prices skyrocket at fastest rate in 13 years

In March, Chinese officials announced the tariffs would apply for five years, in a crippling move for Australian producers.

Last month, the Australian Government attempted to have the WTO examine the sanctions but was blocked by China.

Canberra has also referred Beijing's tariffs on Australian barley exports to the WTO.

Now a new third party body comprising 15 countries - including New Zealand, Canada and the UK - will investigate the wine tariffs, a WTO official said.

In the year to September 2021, exports to China fell by 77 per cent to $274 million, down from the previous average of $1 billion a year, industry body Wine Australia said.

READ MORE: Cleo Smith's parents make new plea as cops check home for clues

Wine was one of the Australian exports to China hit with punitive measures over the past 18 months after the Morrison Government demanded an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and its introduction of foreign interference laws.

Last week in a hard-hitting statement to the WTO, Australia's ambassador George Mina said punitive Chinese trade sanctions were "motivated by political considerations".