China has imposed punitive tariffs on Australian barley totalling over 80% for a whopping five years. The impositions are a 73.6% anti-dumping tariff and a 6.9% anti-subsidy tariff, applied from Tuesday, May 19.

Jane speaks with two WA grain growers who jump off their tractors in the middle of seeding to have a chat about the impact of the tariff, who knew what when, how they feel about the PM’s call for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19, and what this means for grain growing in the short to medium term.

How will farmers, already under pressure and working around the clock, cope with the devastating news?

What does this mean for barley growers in Western Australia, where the majority of the billion dollar export crop is produced? Is this a political reprisal?

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