CANBERRA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has lodged a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over a dispute with Canada involving Australian wine products, the WTO said on Wednesday.

Australia's complaint, published by the WTO on Wednesday, claimed that the Canadian government had policies on wine sales that broke WTO rules.

"It appears that a range of distribution, licensing and sales measures such as product mark-ups, market access and listing policies, as well as duties and taxes on wine applied at the federal and provincial level may discriminate, either directly or indirectly, against imported wine," the complaint said.

It marks the first time that Australia has brought action against Canada in the history of the WTO.

The complaint acts as a request for the two nations to consult on the issue so as to avoid litigation.

If the matter is not resolved within 60 days, a panel is brought in to adjudicate on the case.

The U.S. has also accused the Canadian province of British Columbia of giving local vineyards an unfair advantage by giving their product exclusive retail channels in grocery stores.

Steve Ciobo, Australia's Trade Minister, said Australian winemakers' market share in Canada was slowly diminishing.

Australian wine sales in Canada almost halved between 2007 and 2016.

"Potentially this could cost Australian jobs," he said on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio on Wednesday.

"I want to make sure we're on the front foot about protecting Australia's interests."

Pierre-Olivier Herbert, a spokesman for Canada's International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, said the Canadian government "works closely with all provinces and territories to ensure their liquor distribution and sales policies are consistent with our international trade commitments."

He said that the Canadian government would give "careful consideration" to any consultation request from a member of the WTO.