Australia Foreign Minister Warns of 'Pitfalls of Protectionism' | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Garden Court Café
    • Leo Bar
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Family Events
    • Past Events
    • Event Recaps
    • Space Rental
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Touring Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Learn
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Become a Patron
    • Corporate Support
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
  • About
    • About Asia Society
    • Our People
    • Careers
    • Interns and Volunteers
    • Contact Us
  • Blog
    • All Posts
    • Event Recaps
  • Video
    • All New York Videos
    • Arts
    • Current Affairs
    • Education
    • Policy
  • Space Rental
  • Shop
New York
Search
New York
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Health and Safety
    • Garden Court Café
    • Leo Bar
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Family Events
    • Past Events
    • Event Recaps
    • Space Rental
  • Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Touring Exhibitions
    • Past Exhibitions
  • Learn
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Become a Patron
    • Corporate Support
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
  • About
    • About Asia Society
    • Our People
    • Careers
    • Interns and Volunteers
    • Contact Us
  • Blog
    • All Posts
    • Event Recaps
  • Video
    • All New York Videos
    • Arts
    • Current Affairs
    • Education
    • Policy
  • Space Rental
  • Shop

  • All Posts
  • Event Recaps

Australia Foreign Minister Warns of 'Pitfalls of Protectionism'

March 8th, 2018 by Michelle FlorCruz

The Trump administration's just-imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum have caused trade experts to brace for difficulty in U.S.-China economic relations — and possibly even a trade war between the two. But they're not the only countries that stand to lose. In an address at Asia Society New York, Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop warned that worsening tariff disputes on steel and aluminum would have detrimental consequences for the whole world.

“For the past 70 years, the United States has been the most critically important supporter of openness and the rules-based system on international trade," she said on Wednesday at Asia Society. "If the current dispute widens, and action leads to counteraction, we might see a downward spiral that could put at risk the open trading environment and that would harm us all."

Later, during a conversation with Asia Society Policy Institute President and former Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd, Bishop said that she had “no expectation” that Australia is exempt from the Trump administration’s new tariffs, which she said would likely provoke a retaliation from other trading partners or fuel a shift in the global trade environment toward protectionism. To avoid this, Bishop said that governments should rely on global institutions that have been put in place to mediate. 

"We, of course, understand the concern for fairness in global trade, but the best response to unfair competition is to use the global enforcement that is available, in particular, the dispute settlement processes of the WTO."

Watch the minister’s full address and conversation with Kevin Rudd in the video below.

Julie Bishop
Current Affairs
 /  Australia

Julie Bishop Celebrates Asia Society Australia's 20th Birthday

Australia's foreign minister speaks at the center's 20th-anniversary gala.
Watch Now
Wendy Cutler Squawk Box Tariffs
interview

U.S. May Be 'Headed to a Trade War'

Wendy Cutler describes the implications of the Trump administration's proposed tariffs on steel and aluminum on the United States' economic and strategic partnerships.
Trump APEC
interview

Trump's Tariff Move Raises Concerns for Trading Partners

President Trump's proposed tariffs could have unintended consequences, says ASPI Vice President Wendy Cutler.
  • All Posts
  • Event Recaps
About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2023 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC