February
Bob Carr blasts Labor’s steady-as-she-goes policy on Trump
Former Labor foreign minister warns Australia and other US allies need to wake up to ‘tectonic shift’ that Donald Trump’s agenda represents
Ally Japan seeks exemption from Trump’s tariffs
Tokyo joins Canberra among those trying to avoid the US president’s aggressive “reciprocal” tariffs announced last week.
EU plans Trump-style import ban on food
Brussels wants to block farm products containing prohibited pesticides from the United States, a policy similar to Donald Trump’s “reciprocal” trade policy.
Trump moves to shatter rules of global trade
Nearly all countries with trade ties with the United States would be affected, experts said, and could set off furious negotiations around the world.
Expect Trump’s trade war to leave more bite marks next time
The quick apparent resolution will encourage Trump to keep strong-arming other friends and foes into doing whatever by threatening their access to the American market.
October 2024
Trump or Harris, America’s Asia trade strategy won’t change
Whoever wins next week’s election, Asia’s international economic diplomatic challenge remains the same: to keep the global multilateral trade enterprise alive.
How Australia can help save rules-based trade
The global trading system of trade rules faces its gravest crisis since its inception. There is a way out and Australia can help.
September 2024
China’s had deflation before. This is what it needs to do this time
Balance sheet issues were central to the contraction in previous deflationary episodes, and the resolution of these was key. Policymakers should focus on that.
Japan and Australia face a turning point in world history
Tokyo and Canberra back a free and open international order against unilateral attempts to coerce, says a contender in Japan’s prime ministerial race.
August 2024
Canada tries to halt China’s EV flood with 100pc tariffs
The move replicates US and EU measures as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says China “is not playing by the same rules” as everyone else over electric vehicles.
High-level dialogue shows China chill is ending
The resumed annual face-to-face meeting of government and industry has been crucial to stabilising the relationship.
When Keating went to war with the White House
Secret cables reveal for the first time how Keating’s right-hand man and a senior White House official engaged in an extraordinary war of words in 1992, sometimes in personal terms.
Australia should focus on rules, not ‘rules-based order’, in Asia
Support for the transition from a US-led world to a multipolar world is gaining traction.
What does China make of America’s topsy-turvy election?
Beijing will have trouble working out whether a hard or soft approach to a new US administration will work best.
July 2024
New swipe at China over trade as lobster exports remain on ice
China should give up the favourable treatment it receives as a developing nation in the global trading system, the Albanese government says.
This could be the funniest business book you’ll read all year
Former Australian trade negotiator Dmitry Grozoubinski has written a tome about international trade policy. And for that, he’s very, very sorry.
Cheaper kitchen sinks as Canberra dismantles tariff barrier to China
While Australian lobster remains off the menu in Beijing, the Albanese government is removing tariffs on Chinese-made kitchen sinks.
June 2024
China, EU agree to talks to head off EV trade war
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis will hold discussions to ease an escalating dispute.
Global supply chains at risk without new WTO rules for digital trade
The World Trade Organisation, despite its flaws, remains the only single vehicle able to attract multilateral participation, and business needs it more than ever.
History will judge the new era of US protectionism harshly
The unseemly contest by Joe Biden and Donald Trump to outdo each other in trade protectionism will make the world become less prosperous and more unpredictable.