Australia rejects China’s call to unite against US tariffs
Australia has firmly turned down China’s proposal to collaborate in opposing U.S. trade tariffs, signaling a strategic shift toward reducing its economic dependence on Beijing. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles emphasized on Thursday that Canberra will not align with China in global trade disputes, stating that Australia is focused solely on pursuing its own national interests.
In an interview with Sky News, Marles dismissed the suggestion made by China’s ambassador Xiao Qian, who had called for countries to “join hands” in defending the multilateral trading system. Instead, Marles stressed that Australia is committed to strengthening trade relations with a broader group of partners, including the European Union, India, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and Middle Eastern nations, to enhance its economic resilience.
Xiao Qian, in an opinion piece published in The Age, had encouraged closer cooperation between Beijing and Canberra to address global trade challenges. However, Australia’s leadership reiterated that while it values multilateralism, its approach is to diversify rather than deepen dependency on any single market.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also noted that the U.S. tariffs on Australia lack justification, but he clarified that his administration would not retaliate, maintaining a balanced stance in the face of geopolitical tensions.
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