The rain which fell in the State’s Wheatbelt and south coast this week was a timely reminder to consider the contribution made by the agricultural sector— and the farmers it was ‘good for’ .
New trade figures reveal WA’s exports to the world increased 13.3 per cent in 2019-20, with China our biggest buyer — accounting for more than half of all goods exported out of the state.
Lanai Scarr
Western Australia’s peak business group has warned business investment — ex-mining — is set to slump as the uncertain economic environment continues to drive sentiment.
Meilin Chew
WA Premier Mark McGowan says he fears rising tensions with China will see the Asian superpower impose further trade sanctions against more local industries.
Peter Law
Renewable energy technologies are centre stage in the $5.5 billion recovery plan, but local businesses say WA would enjoy better long-term jobs growth if funding was pumped into local manufacturing.
Australia’s trade relationship with China is ‘mutually beneficial’ and ‘has never been stronger’, driven by the communist nation’s surging demand for iron ore, Scott Morrison has declared.
Rourke Walsh
The world’s biggest liquefied natural gas merchant is making a bet on the trade’s digital future by taking a minority investment in Perth-based online platform developer GLX Digital.
Dan Murtaugh
China has escalated trade threats with an editorial in its state-owned paper, saying ‘Australia is not irreplaceable’ after Scott Morrison offered safe haven to Hong Kong citizens and businesses.
Annabel Hennessy
A China expert has warned WA businesses could again be caught in the “crossfire” of escalating tensions between Australia and the Asian giant.
A historic free-trade deal between Australia and Indonesia that comes into force tomorrow is set to be the “catalyst” for the creation of jobs and economic growth.
Australia’s annual exports to China hit record highs in May, suggesting it was largely business as usual between the nations, despite a backdrop of escalating trade tensions.
WA is set to receive a $1 billion export boost with the Federal Government underwriting flights carrying rock lobster and other agricultural products while international planes remain grounded.
WA is poised to outperform the national economy during the coronavirus pandemic but will still succumb to the forces driving the wider Australian economy into recession, a new report predicts.
Danielle Le Messurier
Imports of consumption goods was steeply lower, down 14 per cent to $8.9b.
Derek Rose
These are anxious, worrying times. We don’t trust Donald Trump, but we still put great value on the US security alliance. And our attitudes towards China have shifted significantly.
Gareth Parker
Perth business owners have joined forces to front a new campaign urging West Australians to return to the city and support those hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
Pru Bennett has been appointed to lead the Federal Government's new foundation for Australian-China relations — tasked to ‘build links’ with Beijing amidst concerns about trade with the superpower.
Up to one third of Australia’s exports to China are “at risk” amid rising trade tensions between the two countries, according to a leading economist.
Strong trade and closer ties with India would help ease Australia’s economic and political vulnerability to China, says Adil Cader.
Adil Cader
The coronavirus-afflicted Al Kuwait livestock ship has begun its delayed departure from Western Australia, carrying about 35,000 sheep to the Middle East.
One new coronavirus case has been recorded in Western Australia, while bad weather continues to delay a shipment of about 35,000 sheep bound for the Middle East.
After a dramatic few weeks, the live export carrier still won’t be able to depart for the Middle East as planned.
Jenne Brammer
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham announcing talks with the UK on a free trade agreement have begun as the Morrison Government looks to diversify export markets and reduce Australia’s reliance on China.
The beach price for crays has plunged and fishers only just starting to recover from February’s COVID-19 all-stop are again cutting back on their catch as some China markets ban seafood imports.
© West Australian Newspapers Limited 2020
