Trade with Chinese characteristics? | The Spectator Australia

Wine. Barley. Beef. Lobsters. Sugar. Timber. Copper. Thermal coal. These are important Australian exports which are increasingly being used as tools of Chinese foreign policy.  

The current disruption of Australian exports of lobsters and timber to China by local customs authorities adds to the list of Australian products being blocked entry into China. It also highlights Australia’s core security and economic dilemma with our largest trading partner and our key security ally being geostrategic competitors. 

China is Australia’s largest trading partner representing over 27% of trade.  Australia’s annual exports to China account for $169 billion with the four biggest exports being iron ore, coal, gas and education…