Australia Dismisses China's Offer to Collaborate Against US Tariffs
Australia has turned down China's proposal to work together on trade matters, choosing instead to diversify its trade and lessen its reliance on China, which is its biggest trading partner.
The Australian government has turned down a proposal from Beijing to collaborate on addressing US tariffs, reaffirming its commitment to diversifying its trade and decreasing its dependence on China.
In an interview, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles stated that Australia will not "hold hands" with China regarding any global competition matters.
Instead, the nation will prioritize advancing its own interests and expanding its trade on a global scale.
Australia aims to bolster trade relationships with the European Union, Indonesia, India, the UK, and the Middle East.
Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, had urged Canberra to partner with Beijing in order to safeguard the global multilateral trading system.
In the meantime, US President Donald Trump has declared a temporary reduction in tariffs for numerous countries but will persist in targeting China, raising tariffs from 104% to 125%.
This action is anticipated to exacerbate the trade war between the world's two largest economies, posing a threat to Australia, which exports nearly one-third of its products to China.
The Australian central bank has cautioned that ongoing uncertainty regarding US tariffs and other trade barriers might have a detrimental impact on business investments and household spending in the country.