Australia rejects China offer after Trump escalation, reopens free trade talks with EU
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Beijing’s bid to enlist Australia to join its side in the escalating trade war with the United States has drawn a frosty response, with the Albanese government vowing to redouble its push to seek new export markets beyond China and the US.
The European Union’s top trade official is set to travel to Australia soon after the federal election to restart negotiations on an elusive free trade pact, after Trade Minister Don Farrell spoke to his counterpart on Wednesday night in an unusual move during an election campaign.
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The focus on trade came as a visiting Pacific leader rejected China’s bid to force it to break with Taiwan, while arguing there was still lingering damage from a decade-old gaffe in which Peter Dutton joked about rising sea levels in the Pacific.
Defence Minister Richard Marles firmly rejected Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian’s offer to “join hands” with Australia to respond to Trump’s tariffs, which the diplomat made in an opinion piece in this masthead on Thursday.
“We’re not about to make common cause with China – that’s not what’s going to happen here,” Marles told Nine’s Today.
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EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic proposed moving towards reopening talks during his hour-long video meeting with Australian counterpart Don Farrell on Wednesday evening.
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Any potential Australia-EU deal would eliminate about 98 per cent of tariffs and reduce red tape for companies doing business across borders. Business groups estimate an agreement would deliver a $6 billion boost to what is already Australia’s third-largest trading partner after China and Japan.
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