According to Mr. Birmingham, market diversification will be encouraged to deal with the "risk" factor from trade with China.
Speaking on ABC television, the Birmingham minister also stated that Canberra reserved the right to sue Beijing with the World Trade Organization (WTO) if Australian barley was imposed by China.
"The issue of using the rules-based international trading system that we strongly support, to ensure that when we think things are happening outside the framework of these rules, they I can submit to them and find a solution through an independent arbitrator, "Birmingham said, and rejected the proposal to resolve the dispute by letting Beijing impose tariffs on low-price barley.
According to Mr. Birmingham, although Australia to open negotiations and communication between the two governments is still ongoing, Chinese counterpart Chung Son has not yet responded to his call to discuss the trade situation. stress escalation.
Earlier, after Canberra called for an independent investigation into the origin of the new strain of corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) that caused the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye threatened to erase. Vegetarian goods this country. Since then, China has issued a ban on beef imports from four Australian meat processing companies and is considering imposing an 80% tax on Australian barley.
Meanwhile, the leader of the European People’s Party (EPP) coalition in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, on May 17 urged the European Union (EU) to issue a 12-month ban on Chinese investors want to buy European businesses.
Confirming Chinese companies, partly backed by state funds, are trying to acquire falling European companies or face financial difficulties due to the Covid-19 crisis, Weber stressed. concerted action is needed to "end this buying wave."
"We have to save ourselves ... We have to be alert," Weber warned, affirming that China will be Europe’s biggest socio-economic and political rival in the future.
This announcement came after the German government agreed to tighten the rules to protect domestic companies from the risk of unwanted acquisition from non-EU investors. The move comes as Germany in particular and the EU in general are reconsidering their relations with Beijing in the context of increasing investment from Chinese state-owned enterprises in important areas.
Meanwhile, Josep Borrell, senior EU security and foreign affairs representative, recently accused Beijing of trying to capitalize on the differences of views of 27 EU member states to gain benefits. utility. Mr. Borrell called on the EU to maintain collective discipline to deal with Beijing.
"Developing a common EU approach to the powers is never easy, because each member country has its own views and sensibilities. China is not an exception. More moreover, they sometimes do not hesitate to take advantage of those differences "- said the Spanish politician.
