Anti-dumping duties of between 116.2 and 218.4 per cent have been imposed on Australian wines in containers of two litres or less since March.

The duties are set to be applied for five years, but the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed in October to establish a dispute-settlement panel.

China's decision to allow its dispute with Australia over Beijing's import tariffs imposed on Australian wine - costing the industry 100 million litres in sales - highlights both a willingness and reluctance to adhere to World Trade Organization (WTO) principles, according to a trade expert.

Canberra lodged a formal complaint with the WTO in June after China imposed duties of between 116.2 and 218.4 per cent on Australian wine in containers of up to two litres in March.

The WTO agreed to establish a dispute-settlement panel to address Canberra's complaint in October.