26 Jul 2023
A return to old-school mercantilism?
Suspicion and economic competition are forcing states back in time, with protectionism and self-sufficiency the new norm.
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20 Jul 2023
Economic diplomacy: Japan’s message in a gas bottle
More than hot air, economics is the essence of national security in Australia’s resource deficient closest Asian partner. -
19 Jul 2023
Why China tripled its heavy truck shipments to Central Asia: Unravelling the influence of Russia’s war in Ukraine
A sharp spike in overall exports to the region appears to provide Beijing a pathway to indirectly support the Kremlin’s war effort. -
19 Jul 2023
Why the Black Sea Grain Initiative must be restored
The collapse of a deal integral to world food security will imperil millions of lives. -
17 Jul 2023
The cost-benefit of turning “dirty” shipping clean
The engines of global trade pump out enormous amounts of carbon and vulnerable Pacific islands are fighting for a change. -
6 Jul 2023
Economic diplomacy: Power shifts with Jakarta
Australia and Indonesia may be riding together in a new electric diplomatic limo, but they still have separate roadmaps. -
4 Jul 2023
Reforming Australia’s trading system – a long hard slog but worth the effort
Confidence in the quality of traded goods and services relies on certification that agreed standards are met. That’s a regulation challenge, too. -
30 Jun 2023
Globalisation promised growth. Now emerging economies need a new path
Rising trade barriers and financial stress has upended the idea that a free and open world economy will bring prosperity. -
5 Jun 2023
Trading up can unlock India’s industrial potential
Three foundational flaws in trade policy are holding the country back from becoming the next manufacturing powerhouse. -
9 May 2023
“Play defence” in any collective response to China’s economic coercion
The cost of fighting back is unlikely to be spread evenly across any coalition, which risks undermining the effort. -
27 Apr 2023
Economic diplomacy: Friends, rivals and diplomatic gaslighting
Money still talks in a new world of tighter security alliances when Japan and China can align against Australia on energy. -
2 Mar 2023
Economic diplomacy: Arming up for war and trade
Sovereign capability is the government’s answer to an old political trade-off in the face of geoeconomic fragmentation. -
20 Feb 2023
Indonesia’s uncertain climb up the nickel value chain
Demand for EVs is driving domestic and foreign direct investment in the country’s minerals sector. But caution is needed. -
8 Feb 2023
What the China thaw means for Australia’s trade diversification agenda
While it’s easy to say never again allow one market to dominate, the promise of premium prices will be hard to ignore. -
2 Feb 2023
Economic diplomacy: Diversification is hard to do
Treasurer Jim Chalmers should rise above outdated jibes at the IMF to justify his aims for a new values-based economy. -
23 Jan 2023
How will China’s punitive trade restrictions against Australia end?
Good vibes could turn into a solution – but if China demands a quid pro quo, reaching agreement will be complex. -
11 Jan 2023
Crossing the carbon border
International trade is skewed in favour of exporters who pay less for carbon emissions. The EU wants to change that. -
20 Dec 2022
To unchain Indonesia’s commodity reliance
Riches from minerals and agriculture resources are yet to transform the local economy. Wider reforms should be the goal. -
15 Dec 2022
Economic diplomacy: From pollie crises to polycrisis
There are political bunfights, strategic challenges and wicked problems, but let’s not “overcrisify” the world. -
13 Dec 2022
2022: A global turning point
Looking at trends and contours that have coalesced this year to make international politics more contested and unpredictable. -
17 Nov 2022
Economic diplomacy: Charging up old ties with Jakarta
Australia has stepped up a trade diversification push despite the first moves towards reconciliation with China. -
15 Nov 2022
Putting food at the heart of China-Indonesia relations
Beijing sees Indonesia as a major contributor to its food security and this has found receptive ears in Jakarta. -
9 Nov 2022
Countdown to Asia’s summit season
Conflict in Myanmar and Ukraine against a backdrop of US‑China tension – a crowded agenda will unfold in coming weeks. -
3 Nov 2022
Economic diplomacy: Searching for APEC
APEC faces some new competition as Australia considers the sovereign risks involved in reducing domestic gas prices. -
10 Oct 2022
EU in the driver’s seat on Indo-Pacific trade deals
Is the New Zealand–European Union free trade agreement an omen for Australia’s negotiations? -
13 Sep 2022
The Quad needs a stronger economic message
Trade is the path to regional prosperity, but the four partners stand divided on how this can be achieved. -
11 Aug 2022
Economic diplomacy: No free lunches for national security
New foreign investment rules, nuisance tariffs and supply chains are all under scrutiny by the Productivity Commission. -
28 Jul 2022
Economic diplomacy: The Pacific reset needs real commercial investment
The language of geopolitics is trickling down to unexpected corners of the economy with wide-ranging long-term impact. -
27 Jul 2022
Economic diplomacy: The Pacific beats ASEAN for nervous investors
Abe Shinzo’s passing and the Timor oil spy case dismissal reveal new thinking about what national security means. -
27 Jun 2022
Economic diplomacy: New supply chains to Jakarta and beyond
Business diversification is looking more positive in Indonesia but more confusing in the broader Indo-Pacific. -
2 Jun 2022
Economic diplomacy: New Labor ministers are facing up to old issues
Reshaping policies on the Pacific, Indonesia and domestic manufacturing is already revealing a changing of the guard. -
31 May 2022
Japan-Australia: building a hydrogen supply chain
Efforts to develop a network for cleaner energy in the Indo-Pacific marks a practical step for closer relations. -
26 May 2022
Where to for trade policy?
Australia is building the micro foundations for global cooperation. -
12 May 2022
A flash in the pan? Indonesia’s palm oil export ban
Apparent domestic shortages appear more a case of a government stand-off with industry over pricing. -
5 May 2022
Economic diplomacy: Trade shifts challenge a new government
“Friendshoring” offers a half-way house between reshoring production and diversifying markets in a deglobalising world. -
21 Apr 2022
A first for India and a chance to trade up with Australia
The new trade deal should be a stepping stone for the two countries to make their economic partnership comprehensive. -
23 Mar 2022
Trade policy agenda facing new drivers
More than ever, Australia’s national security and economic resilience goals need integrating with smart trade policy. -
24 Feb 2022
Economic diplomacy: Slow dividends for Australia from ASEAN spending
Amid the Ukraine sanctions showdown, an Indian trade deal looms as a pre-election win for the Morrison government. -
27 Jan 2022
Will the EU step up to secure rules-based Indo-Pacific trade?
The rivalry with China is systemic and heft is needed to anchor market-orientated trade. -
18 Jan 2022
Australia has a solution to Indonesia’s soaring food prices
As Indonesia takes the G20 presidency solving the country’s food security crisis should be top of the agenda. -
21 Dec 2021
Economic diplomacy: Retro shopping beats the supply chain crisis
WWW Santa beware. The gift trade is still subject to the old-school padded tromp of shoe leather. -
2 Dec 2021
Economic diplomacy: Free trade vs economic resilience
From Chinese iPhones to university classrooms, trade in services is being redefined. -
1 Nov 2021
Markets and resilience in the face of economic coercion
Calls for a “China plus” strategy rightfully draws business attention to the need to manage rising geoeconomic risks. -
22 Oct 2021
China’s economic sanctions made Australia more confident
Greed hasn’t left Canberra cowering in the face of Beijing’s attempted punishment. -
21 Oct 2021
Economic diplomacy: Los Angeles port pips China as Christmas grinch
Amid an emerging global trade supply chain crisis, Australian economic policy advisers are more reserved about risks. -
4 Oct 2021
The scope to negotiate with China on the CPTPP
It would be useful to have more cooperative economic ballast in relations, even as other things might deteriorate. -
1 Oct 2021
WTO dispute settlement: why Australia bothers
Australia had been an infrequent user of this tool. But the system is now more relevant than ever. -
28 Sep 2021
Australia’s real leverage in China’s CPTTP bid
Beijing has handed Canberra an unexpected bargaining chip. The question is how to best use it? -
21 Sep 2021
Australia-India trade deal: An early harvest or cherry picking?
A pragmatic tone appears to distinguish the revived talks. Ambitious, not so much. -
10 Sep 2021
The right climate for Indonesia-United States cooperation
If Washington is to judge its trade partners on environmental measures, Jakarta actually has a good story to tell.