News from the Institute for International Trade

Australia’s response to Chinese economic coercion: towards a comprehensive strategic approach to export diversification

Mike Adams, former Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) economist. Ron Wickes, past Director of the Trade Analysis Section of DFAT, Nicolas Brown headed DFAT’s branch for analysis and strategic advice on trade and economic issues. 
On a range of measures, Australia’s exports have become more concentrated on China since 2000. Yet geopolitical tensions, intensified by China blocking key Australian exports over the past two years, has fuelled a debate over export diversification to reduce vulnerability to economic coercion. This policy brief argues that much of the debate misses key facts about Australia’s economic options, and argues for economic reform and regional cooperation to support diversification.

[Read more about Australia’s response to Chinese economic coercion: towards a comprehensive strategic approach to export diversification]