Canberra steps up trade defences in response to US–China tariff fallout
The Anti-Dumping Commission is developing a new data tool to flag diverted imports early, as Chinese goods flow to Australia following US tariff hikes.
Australia’s Anti-Dumping Commission (ADC) is adopting a more proactive trade defence strategy through a new data tool designed to identify risks to local industry before they emerge, as low-cost Chinese imports rise in response to US tariffs.
The commission is following the lead of the European Union, which in June launched a public dashboard to support its Import Surveillance Taskforce. The tool helps the EU monitor the spillover effects of Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime and advise on defensive measures.
After Trump outlined plans in March to impose substantial tariffs on China, Chinese exports to the US “have fallen by nearly 30%”, according to Westpac research. Over a similar period, Chinese exports to Australia rose more than 10%.
Westpac senior economist Mantas Vanagas told Capital Brief this shift is “what you would expect when you put some barriers between the two countries, the goods flow somewhere else”.
