China has dropped its 80 per cent tariffs on Australian barley, after a long-running and high-profile trade war between the two nations.
The tariffs were introduced in May 2020 after Beijing accused Australia of selling the grain below the cost of production and subsidising farmers.
The tariffs set off a trade war between the two nations and were widely considered to be a form of retaliation for Australia’s call for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.
Australia referred China to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the tariffs in December 2020 but suspended the appeal earlier this year when Beijing agreed to review the tariffs.
At the height of the trade in 2018, Australia's barley exports to China were valued around $1 billion, which drew to a standstill once the tariffs were applied.
A statement from China's Ministry of Commerce on Friday said it had: "ruled that, in view of the changes in the market situation of barley in China, it is no longer necessary to continue to impose anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties on the imported barley originating in Australia."
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