Australian foreign minister criticizes US unilateralism, trade protectionism

Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop has criticized recent moves in the United States to unilaterally raise tariffs and quotas against some of its trading partners.

"We have urged the United States to remain within the framework of the World Trade Organization and to use its dispute settlement processes," said the foreign minister in a speech at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop [File Photo: IC]

Bishop pointed out that the rules-based order is a network of alliances, treaties, conventions and institutions underpinned by international law, developed to protect the interests of all nations and to create a level playing field so that all boats have the same opportunity to be lifted on the rising economic tide.

She said the test for the current generation will be whether to defend and strengthen rules-based order that has brought unparalleled prosperity and opportunity to humanity.

Bishop also said Australia is entering the 27th consecutive year of uninterrupted growth -- a world record for any economy in modern history. Last November Bishop launched the Australian Government's 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Trade Minister Steven Ciobo, which is a fundamentally optimistic document.

"It commits Australia to championing the benefits of economic openness and further trade liberalization and warns against the pitfalls of protectionism," said Bishop.

She said Australia is concerned about recent moves in the United States to unilaterally raise tariffs and quotas against some of its trading partners and comments that US behavior is not consistent with the United States as a champion for the past 70 years of more open markets.

The more open trading environment has, along with prolonged peace, underwritten prosperity in the United States and around the world, said Bishop.

The foreign minister claimed it is not in Australia's interests, nor that of the world economy, for any escalation of current tensions into a full-scale trade war.

Bishop emphasized that Australia's concerns have been raised with the Trump administration at the highest levels, where they have urged the United States to remain within the framework of the World Trade Organization and to use its dispute settlement processes.