Australia’s Trade Minister Simon Birmingham joins this episode of The Briefing as we look at the growing trade tensions between Australia and China, and what Australia is going to do to fix it.

 

This year after our political leaders called for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 China announced restrictions on some of our key exports including Barley wine, timber, coal, copper ore, sugar and seafood, all of which are now on the banned list by China Customs.

 

So how bad is our relationship with China right now? How did we get here? Who is at fault? Is this a coordinated act of punishment out of Beijing? And has Australia been too outspoken for our own good?

We’re also joined by Geoff Raby AO, an Australian economist and diplomat and former Ambassador to China.

 

 

In today's headlines:

• More sponsors ditch Pete Evans over cartoon featuring neo-Nazi symbol
• Adelaide cluster continues to grow as thousands forced to isolate
• Australia and Japan agree 'in principle' to historic defence pact

 

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