Canada and Russia will join Australia’s World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), citing concerns over the wider ramifications a ruling could have on global barley markets. In May, the CCP imposed 80 percent worth of tariffs on Australian barley imports as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged “dumping” of barley into the local market. The tariffs came not long after Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingye in Canberra warned of potential economic sanctions against the country following its calls to investigate the origins of COVID-19. Australian officials tried for months to negotiate but were unable to even get in contact with their Chinese counterparts. In December, then-Trade Minister Simon Birmingham announced Australia would launch an official dispute via the WTO. Canada, one of the top five barley exporters globally, said they had a “substantial interest” in the consultations due to their high exposure to the China …