Australian PM's call for virus inquiry may harm long-term China trade - business leaders

[snoop1130]

Australian PM's call for virus inquiry may harm long-term China trade - business leaders

By Kirsty Needham

 

FILE PHOTO: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison departs a joint press conference held with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Admiralty House in Sydney, Australia, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian government’s diplomatic stoush with its largest trading partner China over Canberra’s push for a coronavirus inquiry has some of the nation’s top business leaders nervous that economic ties will become irreparably damaged.

 

Billionaire Kerry Stokes used the front page of his West Australian newspaper to warn against poking the country’s biggest customer in the eye, while iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest called for an inquiry to be delayed until after the U.S. presidential election.

 

“The reality is right now that business wants to trade with China,” David Olsson, president of the Australia China Business Council, told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio.

 

“Once consumer demand picks up again in China, there will be no other market in the short-to-medium term that will provide a market for our exports, which is so important for our recovery.”

 

With Australia’s total trade with China worth AU$235 billion annually, or a third of exports, businesses reliant on exports have questioned the timing of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s push for an international inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Foreign Minister Marise Payne played down a business backlash on Friday and said the government understood it was important to get a coronavirus investigation timing right.

 

The government would “protect both our national security and our economy”, Payne told Australian Broadcasting Corp radio.

 

China has rejected the call for an inquiry, labelling it anti-China, and its ambassador in Australia has warned Chinese consumers could boycott Australian wine, beef and universities.

 

Australia has sought to insulate the valuable trading relationship in previous disputes with China, but this time its trade minister joined other government ministers in accusing China of threatening “economic coercion”.

 

“In the current crisis, it’s never been more important for countries to cooperate to ensure we all get through this together,” said National Farmers Federation chief executive Tony Mahar.

 

Trade with China “will play an important role in the COVID-19 recovery of both countries” and food security was only possible through open trade, he said in a statement to Reuters.

 

China is the top market for Australian wine exports, already suffering from the worst bushfires on record.

 

“We would prefer that politics and business are kept separate, and diplomatic channels are the better way to deal with this”, Tony Battagene, chief executive of industry body Australian Grape and Wine, told Reuters.

 

Wine exporters experienced customs delays in China during diplomatic tensions in 2018, Battagene said.

 

“An inquiry is fine and great – I don’t think it is urgent,” he said.

 

Morrison said on Friday his call for a review had “a lot of support” and would be raised at the World Health Assembly next month through a European Union resolution.

 

Forrest, head of Fortescue Metals Group, upset the government by bringing a Chinese diplomat to speak at a press event he was holding with the health minister, to promote 10 million COVID-19 testing kits he had imported from China.

 

“Australia needs to walk that line where we can have a best friend in America, we can have best friend in China, we can have best friends across South East Asia,” he said in a radio interview.

 

Other industry groups told Reuters they were unhappy with the diplomatic dispute, but didn’t want to publicly criticise the Australian government’s tactics, because they feared this could be used in Chinese propaganda.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-01

 

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[petermik]

Grow a pair....they (China) are solely responsible for the current chaos...make them pay for it

[Mavideol]

2 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

“We would prefer that politics and business are kept separate, and diplomatic channels are the better way to deal with this”

good point, don't fall for their coercion

[Puchaiyank]

If the Chinese have nothing to fear, they should welcome a thorough investigation and show the world they are eager to cooperate.

 

Threats of economic retaliation puts the virus spotlight clearly in their country... 

[totally thaied up]

Get a grip guys - it is the Wuhan Flu, it came from China and since day one they have not wanted to take responsibility for it. Threatening us with 'economic consequences' if we do not toe the line to the 'CCP' just makes my blood boil. The world should stick it to them.

[steven100]

I agree it's the Wuhan flu, common sense says when you have an assortment of wild and exotic animals being slaughtered under the one roof you are going to have blood splatter, animals that were sick or had a virus will be slaughtered and cut up while the next table is chopping up bats for soup and then another one is cutting up pork which looks fine but a small cut piece was splashed with blood from a nearby table.

Water hosing with infected blood and the butcher doesn't even know he's infected from the animal so he in turn passes it onto others.  imo ....   it's not a sterile area so what do you expect will eventually occur ?

[Inn Between]

Big business always gets their way over the good of the people. Look at the stupidly low fines businesses always get for the consumer or ecological crimes they are found guilty of. The fines sound large but are actually a pittance of the gain the companies enjoyed through their illegal activity, and rarely if ever do any of the executives responsible for the crimes suffer even a blemish on their records. 

 

Countries like Australia, Canada and the USA should feel obliged to conduct deep investigations into the origin of Covid-19 in China, but at the same time, how much can they really achieve? China will not be cooperative, and if they won't open labs and files for inspection and possible intervention against further similar incidents, what can their key trade partners do? It seems they're all over an economical barrel. Australia cannot afford to lose a significant amount of their export business to China, Canada's in a similar situation, and at the same time, China's manufacturers need the raw materials that come in such great quantities. 

 

So. what will happen in the end? Nothing! The greedy needs of Big business will once again, and as always, prevail at the expense of the planet and the majority of its inhabitants. 

   

[graemeaylward]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

diplomatic stoush

I had never heard of this word before! Just goes to show that even in your seventies, you are never too old to learn ???? 

 

stoush in British English

(staʊʃ  ) Australian and New Zealand slang

VERB1. (transitive)

to hit or punch

NOUN2. 

fighting, violence, or a fight

 

 

[hansnl]

14 hours ago, totally thaied up said:

Get a grip guys - it is the Wuhan Flu, it came from China and since day one they have not wanted to take responsibility for it. Threatening us with 'economic consequences' if we do not toe the line to the 'CCP' just makes my blood boil. The world should stick it to them.

There is only one answer to China and the "business tycoons", STOP BUYING CHINESE PRODUCTS....

NOW!!!!

[Eric Loh]

9 minutes ago, hansnl said:

There is only one answer to China and the "business tycoons", STOP BUYING CHINESE PRODUCTS....

NOW!!!!

What about American products made in China. 

[generealty]

20 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

What about American products made in China. 

Pull American companies out of China - there sorted.

[Eric Loh]

4 minutes ago, generealty said:

Pull American companies out of China - there sorted.

Who will make the decision - shareholders or government. 

[Brickbat]

It’s so clear. Smart Business Leaders views and the views of loudmouth no brain and all brawn dummies ( Trum-pets)

[VocalNeal]

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

What about American products made in China. 

Surely if they are made in China they are made in China. No amount of sugar coating will change that?

 

 

Edited May 2, 2020 by VocalNeal

[aussienam]

On 4/13/2020 at 2:25 PM, Liverpoolfan said:

Tourists won't be going back to Pattaya anytime soon.

Think around 18-24 month ball park figure.

Even then I think they will be thin on the ground.

 

Might be a good idea to get the old fish nets out again! 

 

14 hours ago, Inn Between said:

Big business always gets their way over the good of the people. Look at the stupidly low fines businesses always get for the consumer or ecological crimes they are found guilty of. The fines sound large but are actually a pittance of the gain the companies enjoyed through their illegal activity, and rarely if ever do any of the executives responsible for the crimes suffer even a blemish on their records. 

 

Countries like Australia, Canada and the USA should feel obliged to conduct deep investigations into the origin of Covid-19 in China, but at the same time, how much can they really achieve? China will not be cooperative, and if they won't open labs and files for inspection and possible intervention against further similar incidents, what can their key trade partners do? It seems they're all over an economical barrel. Australia cannot afford to lose a significant amount of their export business to China, Canada's in a similar situation, and at the same time, China's manufacturers need the raw materials that come in such great quantities. 

 

So. what will happen in the end? Nothing! The greedy needs of Big business will once again, and as always, prevail at the expense of the planet and the majority of its inhabitants. 

   

That's why it shouldn't be the responsibility of just a few nations to demand an inquiry.  All affected countries should be collaborating to form an international commission into the cause of COVID19.  That way China cannot then decide to boycott every country.  As an Australian, I know that China could financially ruin us if they decide to boycott and place an embargo on our mineral and food exports as well as our international student admissions.  We are already on our knees because of this damned virus.   China knows it and are likely very happy about that fact as they can manipulate and dictate to us and the rest of the world.  Everyone is scared of China as they have taken off their mask now to reveal who they really are.  

[rosst]

Yes, quite likely but it is time we bit the bullet and gave them the flick.  will it hurt??

Damn right it will cause a terrible pain short term but huge uptick in the future.  We have been warned, let us take our time but step back from the devil.

[rosst]

15 hours ago, steven100 said:

I agree it's the Wuhan flu, common sense says when you have an assortment of wild and exotic animals being slaughtered under the one roof you are going to have blood splatter, animals that were sick or had a virus will be slaughtered and cut up while the next table is chopping up bats for soup and then another one is cutting up pork which looks fine but a small cut piece was splashed with blood from a nearby table.

Water hosing with infected blood and the butcher doesn't even know he's infected from the animal so he in turn passes it onto others.  imo ....   it's not a sterile area so what do you expect will eventually occur ?

That is a possible scenario but there are too many imminently qualified people declaring it was a manufactured virus and that is why they don't want any sort of review/investigation/examination, it could actually result in the truth.

[rodpav]

15 hours ago, steven100 said:

I agree it's the Wuhan flu, common sense says when you have an assortment of wild and exotic animals being slaughtered under the one roof you are going to have blood splatter, animals that were sick or had a virus will be slaughtered and cut up while the next table is chopping up bats for soup and then another one is cutting up pork which looks fine but a small cut piece was splashed with blood from a nearby table.

Water hosing with infected blood and the butcher doesn't even know he's infected from the animal so he in turn passes it onto others.  imo ....   it's not a sterile area so what do you expect will eventually occur ?

should never be allowed to run these markets should torch the lot of them

[Eric Loh]

3 minutes ago, rodpav said:

should never be allowed to run these markets should torch the lot of them

Which markets - fresh markets or wild

life markets. 

[Mick501]

Why on earth would any country, including China, not be absolutely insistent on a global inquiry.  How else can we better learn?   The global community needs to learn everything it can so as to better prevent, mitigate and manage any similar future events.

 

China is scared it will lose face as finger pointing in inevitable (and most likely justified).   The government of any countries that would prefer to remain ignorant on learning how to better cope are doing so purely as they've sold their souls to China, and ought to hang their heads in shame.

 

Morrison has chosen his words carefully and has not apportioned any blame.  He simply is calling for an inquiry.   It is China who has their backs up, knowing that any inquiry will cause a monumental loss of face. Kudos to Morrison for having the kahunas to lead the charge.   The snivelling cowards of the left will either remain silent or oppose it of course.

Edited May 2, 2020 by Mick501

[digger70]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Australian PM's call for virus inquiry may harm long-term China trade - business leaders

If China want's to Be Big Brother . Australia may want to  Boycott China .but they will have to have some backup from Other countries. If the boycott last a while Our Australia Will Go Broke.

[simple1]

2 hours ago, rosst said:

That is a possible scenario but there are too many imminently qualified people declaring it was a manufactured virus

Latest US intelligence report refutes your claim as do the majority of virology experts.

 

https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/coronavirus-update-us-intelligence-community-concludes-covid-19-was-not-manmade--c-1009954

[Baerboxer]

20 hours ago, petermik said:

Grow a pair....they (China) are solely responsible for the current chaos...make them pay for it

 

And how exactly do you propose to "make them pay"?

[Baerboxer]

2 hours ago, Mick501 said:

Why on earth would any country, including China, not be absolutely insistent on a global inquiry.  How else can we better learn?   The global community needs to learn everything it can so as to better prevent, mitigate and manage any similar future events.

 

China is scared it will lose face as finger pointing in inevitable (and most likely justified).   The government of any countries that would prefer to remain ignorant on learning how to better cope are doing so purely as they've sold their souls to China, and ought to hang their heads in shame.

 

Morrison has chosen his words carefully and has not apportioned any blame.  He simply is calling for an inquiry.   It is China who has their backs up, knowing that any inquiry will cause a monumental loss of face. Kudos to Morrison for having the kahunas to lead the charge.   The snivelling cowards of the left will either remain silent or oppose it of course.

 

The issue is who could be trusted to conduct a global inquiry and not politicize the reports?

[Mick501]

3 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

The issue is who could be trusted to conduct a global inquiry and not politicize the reports?

True.  Most inquiries are already politicised before they even get started, by limiting the terms of reference to prevent unwanted comments.

[buick]

isn't it important to find patient 0 and/or the origin ?  this should be mandatory, at least make the effort.  has there been a pandemic or epidemic where the origin has not been found or at least tracked down patient 0 ?  i might be wrong but i think they tracked the H1N1 to a farm in mexico (origin) and pretty sure they found patient 0 for the serious ebola outbreak a few years ago.  i can't remember the situation with SARS but i think they got patient 0 not sure about how he/she was infected.  this should be done without question.  china should face consequences if they block this effort.

[FarFlungFalang]

If China doesn't want to share the world can respond in kind by not selling to or buying from China and let them go it alone.

[gearbox]

7 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

If China doesn't want to share the world can respond in kind by not selling to or buying from China and let them go it alone.

There are only three countries pushing for such an enquiry -US, UK, Australia. Hardly the world.

 

I spent almost 2 months in India, a country arch enemy of China, with still running border disputes. You just can't see in the press there the anti-Chinese propaganda you see in the Australian press.

 

There won't be any global inquiry. There is just no precedent for that. China is a nuclear power and the world's biggest economy. No country of that size ever allowed external inquiry on their soil. If that was the case, Bush and Cheney would be long time ago in jail for war crimes, and US would be paying many trillions for Iraq and the GFC.

May not look fair to the smaller countries, but that's the reality.

[candide]

3 hours ago, Mick501 said:

Why on earth would any country, including China, not be absolutely insistent on a global inquiry.  How else can we better learn?   The global community needs to learn everything it can so as to better prevent, mitigate and manage any similar future events.

 

China is scared it will lose face as finger pointing in inevitable (and most likely justified).   The government of any countries that would prefer to remain ignorant on learning how to better cope are doing so purely as they've sold their souls to China, and ought to hang their heads in shame.

 

Morrison has chosen his words carefully and has not apportioned any blame.  He simply is calling for an inquiry.   It is China who has their backs up, knowing that any inquiry will cause a monumental loss of face. Kudos to Morrison for having the kahunas to lead the charge.   The snivelling cowards of the left will either remain silent or oppose it of course.

It's mainly the internal political impact that Chinese authorities fear.

 

The Chinese have been very angry at the local government (and to some extent the national government) and the local health authorities. Plenty of rumors have been spread. Doctors have been suspected of withholding information so that they would have time to write an article about it, etc... It is obvious that Chinese authorities want the population to forget about it.

On top of it, an invasive investigation would be perceived by public opinion as an infringement of national sovereignty.

It will never happen.

[Mavideol]

3 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

The issue is who could be trusted to conduct a global inquiry and not politicize the reports?

meeee and will do it bipartisan 555