ASPI President Kevin Rudd spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation about a potential U.S.-North Korea summit and China’s response to U.S. tariffs.

Regarding a first summit meeting between the United States and North Korea, Rudd warns that it is important to “bring an attitude of skepticism to what might be produced.” While the United States is better off “not slamming a door shut which has already been partially opened,” Rudd emphasizes the importance of “proper preparation” by U.S. policymakers ahead of any such summit.

With regards to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, Rudd says the Chinese response to the tariff announcement “so far has been moderate.” Rudd says that “China is instead focused on the outcome of the visit recently to Washington by incoming Vice Premier of China Liu He.” The United States is demanding that China take immediate measures to narrow a 400 billion dollar trade deficit. According to Rudd, the Chinese government will try to think about “practical terms to bring that about,” because China is not strategically prepared for “a fundamental deterioration in the overall U.S.-China relationship.” (9 min., 34 sec.)