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Geostrategic Tensions Manifesting as Trade Conflict: Policy Recommendations for rebuilding Australia-China relations

China Au

Co Authors: Mike Adams, former Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) economist, Ron Wickes, former Director of the Trade Analysis Section of DFAT and Nicolas Brown, former head of DFAT’s branch responsible for analysis and strategic advice on trade.
China-Australia diplomatic relations are at their lowest point in decades, reflected in trade relations that have become increasingly strained by Beijing’s coercive tactics. Acknowledging that there is little chance of getting back to the positive relationship that Australia and China enjoyed just four or five years ago, this brief argues for a pragmatic diplomatic approach where trade can support a revival of mutually beneficial and broad-based trade and investment relations with China. This need not be at the cost of security and broader strategic interests and could in fact enhance them, irrespective of cultural, political and historical differences.

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India’s reform momentum will define its economic future

India

Natasha Jha Bhaskar is General Manager of Newland Global Group
Thirty years after India’s 1991 economic reforms which ushered a new era of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation, the road ahead for a New India will be determined by reforms that deliver equitable growth, meets the aspirations of a young population, and strengthen global economic integration.

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India's Economic Reforms and Implications for Australia

India - AU

Wednesday 28 July, 2021
The Institute for International Trade (IIT) in partnership with the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group®), hosted an interactive webinar on India’s economic reforms and implications for Australia.

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New research highlights knowledge and skills gaps in key trade areas for business

Research

The United Kingdom (UK) ceased to be a member of Europe’s single market and customs union on 1 January 2021, triggering enormous changes in patterns of trade between the UK, Europe and Australasia, and generating new regulatory and legal barriers between markets that previously experienced almost frictionless movements of goods, services and people.

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Economic Coercion by China: The impact on Australia's merchandise exports

Shipping

WORKING PAPER 04
Australia is estimated to have foregone export revenue of around US$4.9 billion (A$6.6 billion) over July 2020 to February 2021 as a result of China’s restrictions or discriminatory purchasing affecting eight key commodities – coal, copper ores and concentrates, frozen beef, wine, cotton, barley, rough wood and rock lobster.

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Stakeholder Perspectives on an Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement

UK AUS flags podium

Tuesday 6 July, 2021 - Follow up event from 21 June 2021
The United Kingdom and Australia launched negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) on 17 June 2020. Both sides committed to an ambitious and comprehensive agreement that covers services, investment and digital trade. With an agreement-in-principle now in place, the focus turns to how to maximise the benefits of the agreement and the future of Australia-UK services trade. 

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Digital Trade Integration (DTI) project

digital services

1 July 2021. The Digital Trade Integration project aims to launch a network on digital trade which will work on the creation of (1) digital trade restrictions and (2) an index of digital trade integration. Digital trade has risen to the top of the international policy agenda given its sharp increase over the past decade and the sensitivity arising from related issues such as privacy, cybersecurity, freedom of expression, censorship, hate speech and disinformation.

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APEC Study Centre Consortium Conference

6 - 7 July 2021. Professor Jane Drake-Brockman presented at the recent APEC Study Centre Consortium Conference. 

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Loss of LDC-Specific S&D Treatment: How Concerned Should Graduating LDCs Be?

International Negotiations

Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Dhaka, Bangladesh
Before the COVID-19 pandemic had struck in 2020, 12 LDCs had become eligible for graduation by either meeting at least two of the three graduation criteria, or thanks to having crossed the threshold of double the per capita GNI. Graduation during a pandemic raises significant risks in and of itself, but there are other issues too, including that graduation criteria fail to capture many of the underlying causes of vulnerability and institutional weaknesses that persist in the LDCs. Consequently, eligibility of a large number of LDCs for graduation has raised an important development debate as outlined in this article.

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Stakeholder Perspectives on an Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement

UK AUS flags podium

Monday 21st June, 2021
Australia and the United Kingdom launched negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) on 17 June 2020. Both sides have committed to an ambitious and comprehensive agreement that covers services, investment and digital trade. With an agreement-in-principle now in place, the focus turns to how to maximise the benefits of the agreement and the future of Australia-UK services trade. 

[Read more about Stakeholder Perspectives on an Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement]

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