Reference News website reported on May 17, citing a report from the website of The Australian Financial Review on May 15. Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell has rarely refuted Washington's stance, stating that Australia will resist pressure from the Trump administration and refuse to join the United States in exerting pressure on China over trade issues, as China is a "bigger" buyer of Australia's export products.

The Trump administration viewed tariffs as a way to "rebalance" global trade flows and exclude China, seeking support from allies and trading partners, including using access to the U.S. market as an incentive.

However, Farrell said that the government was reluctant to do so because Australia's exports to China far exceeded its exports to the United States. Official data showed that during the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Australia's exports to China amounted to 212 billion Australian dollars (1 Australian dollar is approximately 4.61 Chinese yuan - our website note), while its exports to the United States were only 37 billion Australian dollars.

Farrell was reappointed as the Minister for Trade after the election. He stated in an interview that China is Australia's largest trading partner, and trade with China is "ten times more important" than trade with the United States for Australia. He said: "We don't want to reduce but hope to engage in more trade with China."

"We will decide how to continue engaging with China based on our national interests rather than what Americans may or may not want."

Farrell said that he had submitted a draft agreement for revising tariffs on Australian goods to the U.S. side.

Farrell said: "We will only sign an agreement if it serves the national interest. We hope to reach a good agreement and are prepared to wait patiently." (Translated by Zhang Lin)

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