This photo taken Sept. 30, 2019, shows the headquarters of the World Trade Organization in Geneva. (Kyodo)

       BEIJING (Kyodo) -- China said Thursday that it has filed a complaint to the World Trade Organization over anti-dumping tariffs imposed by Australia on some of its goods, marking a further escalation of trade tensions between the two countries.

       The move by the Chinese Commerce Ministry is believed to be a retaliation against Australia's recent decision to lodge a complaint to the WTO over China's anti-dumping duties on wine exports.

       China said it has targeted Australia's tariffs on its products such as vehicle parts for railways. Australia, meanwhile, said late last month that it will ask the WTO to establish a dispute settlement panel over the tariffs China has levied on its barley.

       Relations between Beijing and Canberra have continued to sour, particularly after Australia early last year called for an independent review into the origins of the novel coronavirus, first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.

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