TAIPEI, Taiwan — China’s withering trade war with Australia is escalating sharply, prompting several of Australia’s allies to express support for a country that is heavily reliant on its giant Asian trading partner and vulnerable to political pressure.
Beijing on Friday announced new tariffs of up to 200 percent on Australian wine, which the country’s trade minister said could make business “unviable” for a $3 billion industry that sends 40 percent of its exports to China. The move adds wine to a growing list of Australian exports that have been targeted by Chinese authorities this year. Other products that have faced trade barriers include coal, timber, seafood and barley, totaling about $20 billion.
The feud between Australia and its largest trading partner, now in its sixth month, has drawn in unexpected casualties: dozens of workers on ships carrying Australian coal have been seeking help after being stranded for months in Chinese ports because they have been denied permission to offload their cargo. Read more…..
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