Australia not ‘joining hands’ with China to resist Trump’s tariffs

Anadolu, Philippine News Agency

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected China’s suggestion of “joining hands,” saying Australia would “speak for ourselves,” ABC reported. (File Photo: Anthony Albanese/Facebook)

ANKARA – Australia on Thursday ruled out the possibility of working with China to resist US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, local media reported.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected China’s suggestion of “joining hands,” saying Australia would “speak for ourselves,” ABC reported.

“Our trade relationship with China is an important one. Trade represents one in four Australian jobs and China is by a long distance our major trading partner,” he was quoted as saying by ABC.

These trade issues, he observed, affect only 20 percent of the global market, while the remaining 80 percent of trade does not involve the US.

“There are opportunities for Australia and we intend to seize them,” Albanese said.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has rejected an invitation from Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian to “join hands” with Beijing in “solidarity” after the two rivals slapped tit-for-tat tariffs on each other.

Marles said Canberra would pursue its own interests and focus on diversifying its trade, pursuing greater ties with Indonesia, India, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

“I don’t think we’ll be holding China’s hand,” he added. (Anadolu)