James Morrow: Dealing with China amid Donald Trump tariffs drama

How confused must China feel? They send a spy ship to Australian waters and all anyone wants to talk about is Trump.

How confused must China feel right now?

They go through all the trouble of sending a spy ship down to Australian waters in the middle of an election and all anyone wants to talk about is Donald Trump.

In the wake of the US president’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, both Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have raced to condemn America’s new protectionist regime that will hit all imported Australian goods with 10 per cent reciprocal tariffs.

It’s a big change from February when the prime minister (through slightly gritted teeth) talked about his “great conversation” with President Trump, saying that he “committed to working constructively together” with the new administration.

On Thursday the prime minister slammed Trump, saying “this is not the act of a friend” (we await comment from Israel about the Albanese government’s recent treatment of them, but that’s another story).

Meanwhile the opposition leader, desperate to claw back his position in the polls, has made it clear that the Coalition would not be all the way with the USA.

Asked by Ben Fordham on 2GB whether he agreed with Albanese, Dutton said he backed Labor’s position, even if he blamed the government’s “dysfunctional relationship”.

“We need to be strong and stand up for our country’s interest,” Dutton said, though he has also been far more consistent in standing up for free trade.

Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese may be on a collision course.

Back in February, asked about Trump’s potential tariff plans, Dutton was clear: “Do I believe in the application of tariffs? No, I don’t. I want to see a free and vibrant trading market.”

The reasons why both sides are sticking it in are not hard to discern.

Donald Trump is increasingly seen as a figure provoking emotions ranging from fear to hate in large segments of the population – particularly among women.

As long as a few weeks ago at least one pollster was reporting Trump’s name coming up in focus groups, negatively, and without prompting.

Talking tough on Trump isn’t just about trying to protect our exporters (who, let’s be honest, are getting among the best deals of any major US trading partner, certainly far better than the EU). It is about winning votes.

But there is another element, too.

Remember that Chinese spy ship?

It’s come up a bit, but for the most part discussion has been muted.

Part of this is a reflection of the simple fact that there is generally room for only one foreign policy issue at a time in any election cycle.

But, also, there is the very real concern that too much tough talk about China might put off Chinese-Australian voters who took such rhetoric from Scott Morrison during the 2022 campaign as a personal slight.

Originally published as James Morrow: Dealing with China amid Donald Trump tariffs drama