A trade war is not in Australia’s interests. It can do more to clarify what the dispute between the US and China is about.

To mitigate the escalating US-China trade war, Australia can attempt to clarify issues with both sides, such as intellectual property and subsidies, and the extent to which such issues are covered and not covered by World Trade Organisation rules and possible reforms that would be agreeable to both sides. Given its long history in the WTO and its capacity to contribute, Australia ought to be playing a more prominent role in defining what rules may be acceptable to both major powers. Australia can do more to get behind a regional trade agreement that would include China and the US.

AIIA National Office researcher Steph Rowell interviewed Dr John Edwards at the 2018 AIIA National Conference on 15 October.

Dr John Edwards is Adjunct Professor at John Curtin Institute of Public Policy and Senior Fellow at the Lowy Institute.

Interviewed by Steph Rowell.

Filmed and edited by William Chua and Tommy Chai.