Australia should fight China with export tariffs

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The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to threaten Australia with tariffs for daring to seek an independent investigation into the Wuhan Coronavirus:

David Littleproud is the second minister in successive days to admit to being unable to talk to high-ranking Chinese government officials as trade tensions between the two nations continue to fester.

It comes as China is tomorrow expected to announce an 80 per cent import tariff on Australian barley…

David Littleproud is the second minister in successive days to admit to being unable to talk to high-ranking Chinese government officials as trade tensions between the two nations continue to fester.

It comes as China is tomorrow expected to announce an 80 per cent import tariff on Australian barley…

Australian exporters believe an 80 per cent tariff will cripple a once-lucrative market.

Beijing last week also banned imports from four Australia abattoirs last week, which accounted for about 35 per cent of beef exports to China.

The Australian Government should respond in kind with the threat of a 10% China-only export tariff on iron ore, coking coal and natural gas.

Australia is the dominant global supplier of these commodities, which are essential to China’s economic development. Moreover, China’s stimulus almost always manifests in empty apartment and infrastructure building, which are dependent on Australian commodity inputs.

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Thus, a 10% export tariff would hurt China financially and send a strong message that Australia has the whip hand on trade and will not be bullied by the CCP.

About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.