AUSTRALIA'S worsening relationship with China could mean tougher times for agricultural exporters in the MIA.
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Several of the region's businesses export their products to China. One of those is Leeton's Toorak Winery, although only on a small scale.
"We are a bit concerned about some of our exports," Toorak winemaker Robert Bruno said.
"The political stoushes with the governments (Australia and China) are a bit of a concern.
"I haven't heard anything official, but there are inklings there could be some setbacks with wine.
"We don't know for sure, but it's something we're keeping an eye on."
According to Wine Australia, just last year wine exports to China reached a record value of $1.25 billion, an increase of 18 per cent.
The total value of Australian wine exports increased by seven per cent in value to $2.89 billion.
The China market occupies a large portion of this export figure.
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Mr Bruno said while Toorak didn't export huge quantities to China, the concerns were on a broader scale.
"It's more about how it affects the Australian wine industry," he said.
"If they cut off exports to China, there's going to be a lot of wine that people can't sell.
"That's going to affect the market. It's a bit of an unknown, but it is a concern."
Of course, the coronavirus pandemic has also impacted on exports of all varieties to locations across the world, not just China.
Australia and China's relationship has soured in more recent times after the federal government called for an independent inquiry into the origin of COVID-19, which is believed to have first spread in China.
This is a notion the Chinese government took issue with and tensions have only risen since then.
Recent cyber attacks have also hit Australia in recent weeks, but the federal government has not officially blamed China for this.
One point is certain, the political to-and-fro doesn't bode well for exporters.
