Put down the megaphone or China might opt for other imports

It is possible there is much more to China’s tariff threats against Australian barley exports than meets the eye. At face value it appears to be a blunt instrument for China to demonstrate its displeasure for Australia’s calls for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus outbreak in China.

Neither side will be able to easily back down from the stances they have taken. However, the barley dumping issue commenced much longer ago than the current spat. Beijing commenced its investigation into "dumping" of Australian barley in November 2017, ostensibly in retaliation against Australia’s anti-dumping actions on Chinese steel and aluminium imports. But, not even that tells the full story.

That action was no doubt intended to incentivise more countries to sign up to the BRI. As infrastructure across Central Asia improves because of the BRI, China will likely import more grain from Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries that historically fed the Soviet Union. Beijing also could look to Central Asia to supply key minerals and metals that could displace much of Australia’s mining exports to China.

Importantly, it would give face to an initiative that is vital to Xi Jinping’s prestige at home and abroad. Signing up to the BRI would also make it easier for Australian business to take advantage of opportunities that are emerging in BRI markets across Central Asia, including projects intended to mitigate China’s reliance on certain imports from Australia.

We are inextricably linked to China economically. As it emerges from the coronavirus pandemic and gets back on track to becoming the world’s largest economy, we will need China to restart our own economy.

China is bluffing.. They need us as much as we do

The next step for Australia is to sell the people’s life to China

Opinion: Let's not do that! --- Money before our sovereignty would be even a greater cost to Australia. 💥 🙏 Placing all our efforts in capturing other markets would be more acceptable to Australians. 👏

this a laughable and naive piece. today's ccp government is not interested taking australia as an equal. if the author ever learn a bit chinese history as I have since as a kid, the 'make china great again' leads to only one thing: an new imperial china. cultural revolution again

After going over the comments.....maybe you and the government should read the room lol

They need Australia more than Australia needs the CCP. Once the CCP is done and they have freedom of franchise, then it will be better for everyone.

Calling on consumer power to show the dragon whose the boss. Boycott and see who comes around 🙏

Better to die on your feet than live on your knees , or so they say.

When Scomo banned HUAWEI 5G from bidding, did he think of boycotting by China ? We know security concern is a lie. US pressure is real. As a Sales, we know NOT to piss off biggest customer !

Too late

Know this: CHINA is Australia’s enemy. China is at this moment, hoarding and storing record amounts of resources from Australia. It will use our resources to threaten us at a later date. Australian needs to stop and review all exports and export licences to China.

Honestly. USA is the biggest hit by this pandemic. Why isn't USA doing more to push the inquiry... It's got a trade deal with China. Yes. Americans do know how to do business better than Australia for sure.

Still waiting for a mathematician to tell us the odds that a virus would accidentally leak at the precise moment China and Russia would love to deploy a bio weapon i.e. when 20,000 US troops began arriving in Europe for war games in January.

Thread carefully I guess. USA is also mulling pulling out F35 production in Australia. Can't afford to lose so many exports at once.

Why we are so afraid! It right China is major exporter... but it’s time to move on guys..! Don’t stick on to 1 country

We have iron ore and lithium. They have kitchen tiles, t shirts and shower curtains. If you can find another STABLE democracy that can can provide you these NECESSITIES, knock yourself out CCP.

I swear when I was at uni many moons ago this opinion was sprouted then, still haven’t figured out how to chat with our neighbours

If FREEDOM is at risk of being controlled or taken away by an “ ideology “, YOU will then see another side you thought you never had. Cherish your Democracy guys, as it is truely under threat and as for the CCP, the world is ROUND and has no corners to hide.

Globalists driven by FEAR! Reduced to grovelling. Trade with Taiwan instead!

Who cares what China thinks, Australia needs to decouple and find new markets.

Typical of SMH to cosy up to China and any other communist nation. More interest in China than Australias national interest.

China are holding millions of people in concentration camps, but it's this stupid distraction story of the virus that we're going to make a stand on? That'd be right.

Is that kow tow?

Okay and Australia will find friendly markets to trade with.

Should ban all the big companies to outsourcing jobs to cheap countries, they are getting more greedy for more profits never think about people.

Who could keep up with supply and demand?

This is all about the right faction of the LNP following the idiot child Trump. China may be authoritarian, but the Chinese aren't mugs. They know it'll hurt us more than it hurts them. I doubt the LNP know how to zip it, though.

How is the helping matters exactly?

Scott is trying hard to pleaseTrump He is blind that China is d biggest customer notUS Worse he uses loudhailer to tell the world

The only thing China has is cheap labour. But wages in China are increasing fast. Pretty soon wages will be on par with the west. Then they got nothing.

Must be hard when a conservative government has to choose between the economy and a chance to play lap dog to the world's biggest idiot, who completely bungled his management of the virus.

And let them black mail the ones they haven't yet killed

Boycott china we will find new markets and better to have less money and freedom than support Nazi germany 2.0 look where it got us

Cower ?

yep, AU should keep biting the pillow & take it...

OK. lets all bend over and be China Communist totalitarian Party lackey.

Bye bye China 👋 freetibet FreeUyghur we will not be silent ✊🏾

Grovelling failed to stop Corruption of our Politicians Hacking into Information & Security International Intellectual Property Theft Fake products from those designing goods China can be a Trading Nation without One Road ONE great Belting for all ' others '

Rubbish!

Australia will always champion “free trade”pursuant to our values as a free nation. Aussies will always chose righteousness over threats and intimidation. Maybe losing some trade in some areas will promote innovation in others. We are a resilient bunch and will always find a way.

Exactly why the CPTPP went ahead even though America didn’t sign up for TPP. The liberal government has been diversifying our trading partners for years with trading blocks and bilateral agreements. Hopefully when this crisis is over we can continue talks with India and the EU.

we need to be wise, lots will happen post covid-19, any smart country with smart leaders will take steps to reduce their dependency on China, it would be good for the rest of the world. we all know how CCP behave & we are not kids, so wise-up people!

Excellent

Generally diplomacy is best conducted out of the public arena.

Australia cannot be kidnapped by CCP. It is time to change now.

Lets continue to build our markets and not shit one our biggest customer. All these talk will result in a lot more pain for a lot more Aussies

Useful idiot.

slsandpet But seriously what is a inquiry going to achieve except a bonus job for a public servants mate? What happened to the banking inquiry? What happened to the sports rorts? Just start manufacturing our own...the quiet Australians right?

Then we lose money. Some things aren’t worth trading our soul for.

The idea that we can bully China is pathetic. They could crush us tomorrow. RWNJ have no clue how to do diplomacy.

The Billionaires are getting nervous. Time for change. The best people should lead Australia not the most captured and corrupt

Whose side are you on?

this is precisely the problem - we are ALL too dependent on China

'Bend over to the CCP' No, thanks.

You're a disgusting sellout. I'm sure you're familiar with Gen. Benedict Arnold. You are his moral heirs, willing to sell out for money. Or.... do you simply sympathize with the CCP?

Uk needs trade partners. After this pandemic China will be ostracised.

There are far more trustworthy Countries to trade with like Taiwan US India etc we don't need dictator communists who steal our intellectual property, spy on us,infiltrate our universities & bully + attempt BRIBERY! Times Up CCP had their chance & BLEW IT!

Well for a start the gov needs to put a stop on property investment by the Chinese, stop all this bulk buying of goods eg baby formula and as well start looking for new trading partners

Great hot take

Some have not heard this or is the money for trashing us too much to resist?

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Australia should threaten China with taking back Port of Darwin: Christensen | Sky News AustraliaLNP MP George Christensen said when responding to the coronavirus, Communist China “corralled the problem for themselves, and sent (the virus) across the world”.\n\nMr Christensen has called China’s recent trade actions against Australia a “bastard act,” and said it was far “too convenient and too much of a coincidence” that only weeks after the government called for a global inquiry into COVID-19, for China to then threaten tariffs.\n\nChina has given the nation’s barley producers ten days before potentially imposing close to an 80 per cent tax on its barley imports. \n\n“These are not the actions of a reputable trading partner”.\n\nThis comes as an ongoing committee into the need for diversification in Australia’s trade relationships – chaired by Mr Christensen – is preparing to call on the ambassador to give testimony.\n\n“China’s got form on this sort of coercion when it comes to trade and mixing trade with politics'. \n\nMr Christensen told Sky News hosts Alan Jones and Graham Richardson Australia should consider using the clause in the Port of Darwin lease contract with China which renders the deal null and void in the case of a national security emergency.\n\n“If we don’t get the beef and barley back pronto and stop talking about other industries, we can actually take some action of our own, then it is a trade war”.\n\nImage: AP Australia will be taking back Darwin Port. Unless China wants to give us one of their ports. Didn't think so..... George Christensen has never met an animals he hasnt considered eating He has valid experience as he heard this from a massage palor in Manila
Source: SkyNewsAust - 🏆 7. / 78 Read more »