MELBOURNE (Reuters – Australia will be seeking inclusion in consultations about a trade dispute that has been launched by China and the European Union at the World Trade Organisation.

The EU launched an attack at WTO Thursday. China was accused of using discriminatory trade tactics against Lithuania. This, it claims, threatens the integrity of the single-market.

China has lowered diplomatic relations with Lithuania. It also pressured multinationals into cutting ties with the Baltic nation with 2.8 million inhabitants.

China has reacted to China’s restrictions by refusing to import Lithuanian products through Chinese customs. They also rejected Lithuanian import requests. EU companies are being pressured to eliminate Lithuanian content in their supply chain when they export to China.

China views Taiwan’s self-governing island as its territorial territory.

Australia’s top trading partner with China was Australia, which banned Huawei Technologies 5G from its network. Canberra also tightened laws to prevent foreign interference and demanded an independent investigation into COVID-19’s origins.

Beijing responded by freezing ministerial contact and imposing tariffs upon several Australian commodities, including coal, beef and barley.

Australia has made two complaints to WTO over China’s import duties on bottled wines and barley in the 18 month period.

Josh Frydenberg, the Australian Treasurer, stated that Australia was being subjected to economic coercion by China in December.

In a statement, Trade Minister Dan Tehan stated that Australia has an “substantial interest” in issues raised by the European Union’s dispute against China.

Australia is against economic coercion. We oppose discriminatory, restrictive and economic trade practices that undercut the international rules-based trading system. They also cause economic harm.