Ministers Stare Down Beijing’s Latest Trade Salvo Aimed at Australia’s Wine Sector

A visitor is checking bottles of Champagne at the Vinexpo Asia Pacific in Hong Kong, on May 27, 2014. On the international financial change, China is very close to pop the Champaign at the end of the year. PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared Australia will never trade away its sovereignty in the face of Beijing’s latest trade-related salvo, this time targeting the valuable wine sector.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on Aug. 18 it was launching an investigation into anti-dumping allegations against Australian wine exporters to China.