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China-Australia relations
EconomyChina Economy

China-Australia relations: trade minister Dan Tehan says businesses must help Canberra repair ties with Beijing

  • Detailed report says Australian businesses, the government and academia can work together to increase trade in Asia as part of a ‘Team Australia’ approach
  • But one expert says businesses cannot be expected to take lead on diplomacy while the government keeps making ‘diplomatic blunders’

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Trade minister Dan Tehan says Australian businesses, the government and academia can work together to increase trade in Asia via a “Team Australia’’ approach. Photo: Getty Images
Su-Lin Tan

Australia’s trade minister has told Australian businesses to “step up to the plate” in repairing ties with China amid the worst bilateral relations between the two countries in decades, as he put forth recommendations on how Australia can better engage with Asia.

On Wednesday, Dan Tehan launched a final joint report by Asia Society Australia and the Business Council of Australia, detailing how Australian businesses, the government and academia can work together to increase trade in Asia via a “Team Australia’’ approach.

The report, “A Second Chance: How Team Australia can succeed in Asia”, makes 24 recommendations on how Australia can diversify its trade across Asia by employing a “China and” rather than a “China or” strategy, while also acknowledging that Asia, with China at the forefront, “is not waiting for us”.

While Australian businesses – particularly those dependent on trade with China – have become increasingly silent in pushing for a “balanced” approach in the past year, amid fears of being accused of kowtowing to Beijing, they could serve to help bridge the gap with China. The government has urged businesses to help, Tehan said, adding that his January letter to his counterpart, Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao, remains unanswered.

“When it comes to China, at the moment, we’re going to need business really stepping up to the plate,” he said during the presentation of the report. “While governments can’t deliver that message directly at the moment, we need businesses to be stepping up and doing what they can.”

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