To take advantage of international market opening and globalization, Australia  also promotes exports to other countries, however, Australian exports also face trade remedy investigations by other countries.

In total, Australia was the target of 39 Anti-dumping investigations, 4 Anti-subsidy investigations and 420 Safeguard investigations in the period 1995-2023. Since safeguard measures are imposed equally to all countries on an MFN basis, it is understandable that Australia was not specifically targeted by Safeguard measures.

According to WTO statistics for the period 1995-2023, Australia was investigated and imposed relatively few trade defence measures compared to other countries/territories.

Table 1: Trade remedy investigations against Australia (1995-2023)

Source: WTO statistics

Regarding countries/territories conducting anti-dumping investigations against Australia: During the period 1995-2023, the United States initiated the most Anti-dumping investigations against Australia with a total of 7 cases (accounting for 17.9% of the total number of Anti-dumping investigations against Australia). Meanwhile, China initiated the most Anti-subsidy investigations against Australia with 2 cases (accounting for 50% of the total number of Anti-subsidy investigations initiated against this country).

Regarding Australian sectors subject to anti-dumping measures: According to WTO statistics, base metals and articles of base metal are the items on which Australia is subject to the most anti-dumping duties with a total of 64 investigations applying anti-dumping measures (including 6 Anti-dumping measures, 2 Anti-subsidy measures and 56 Safeguard measures). Other Australian export items include chemical products; textiles; prepared foods… are also regularly investigated and subject to trade remedy measures (Details can be found in Table below).

Table 2: Top sectors of Australia subject to the most trade remedy measures (1995-2023)

Source: WTO statistics

Source: Center for WTO and International Trade - VCCI