Chapter 3 - Trading links between Australia and China
Background to Australia's
trading relationship with China
3.1
Australia
and China have
long-established trading links that have grown closer and of greater
significance to both countries over recent years. In the trading sense, the two
economies are often referred to as 'natural partners'.[121] Indeed, one commentator described
the relationship as 'a natural economic affinity'.[122] This chapter briefly examines the current
state of Australia's
trading relationship with China
and the developing trends in trade between the two countries.
Diplomacy and trade
3.2
Chinese and Australian politicians speak of their
desire to strengthen and deepen trade and economic relations between their two
countries.[123] Such words do not express
empty sentiments. Concrete actions, including a series of reciprocal high–level
visits, demonstrate a commitment by both sides to furthering the relationship.
3.3
In March 2002, the Chinese Foreign Minister visited Australia,
the first visit by a Foreign Minister since 1992. In the following May, the
Prime Minister, the Hon. John Howard,
visited China.
In August 2003, he made another visit to China
to meet Chinese leaders including President Hu
Jintao and Premier Wen
Jiabao. President Hu
paid a reciprocal visit to Australia
in October 2003 during which he addressed a joint sitting of the Australian
Parliament. Most recently, in April 2005, Mr
Howard conducted a visit to China,
his fifth to that country since becoming Prime Minister. This political and
diplomatic engagement is developing alongside strengthening trading links
between the two countries.
3.4
During the President's visit in 2003, Australia
and China
entered into an agreement, the Australia–China Trade and Economic Framework, which
set in place the foundations for closer commercial ties between the two
countries.[124] This agreement,
designed to liberalise trade and investment between the two countries, was a
significant step forward in building closer economic and trade links. It
included a commitment by both governments to 'undertake a detailed joint study
into the feasibility and benefits of a free trade agreement between Australia
and China'. Since
that agreement was reached, further positive measures have been taken toward a
formal free trade arrangement.[125] In
March 2005, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and
the Chinese Ministry of Commerce released a joint feasibility study into an
Australia–China free trade agreement. The following month, Premier Wen and the Australian
Prime Minister agreed to commence negotiations on an Australia-China Free Trade
Agreement.[126] While this top level
dialogue has and is taking place, trade between the two countries forges ahead.
China's
growing importance as a trading partner
3.5
China
is currently one of Australia's
major trading partners.[127] During the
decade leading to 2003, China
moved from being the tenth to the third largest merchandise trading partner
with Australia.[128] During 2004–05, China
became Australia's
second largest merchandise export market and the second largest source of
imports. Australia
is China's eighth
largest trading partner for goods.[129]
3.6
The following figures show the steady growth in
Australian exports to China
from 1991 to 2001. Over this period it quadrupled to become Australia's
fifth largest export market rising from tenth in 1991–1992.
Table 3.1: Australia's export
market to China 1991–2001
1991–1992
$m
|
1992–1993
$m
|
1993–1994
$m
|
1994–1995
$m
|
1995–1996
$m
|
1996–1997
$m
|
1997–1998
$m
|
1998–1999
$m
|
1999–2000
$m
|
2000–2001
$m
|
1,458
|
2,268
|
2,590
|
2,964
|
3,781
|
3,584
|
3,872
|
3,948
|
4,966
|
6,846
|
Taken from Australian Bureau of Statistics,
International Merchandise Trade, Australia 2002,
International Accounts and Trade, Feature Article—Australia's export
markets, 1991–92 to 2000–01.
3.7
More recently, the trend in exports to China
has continued on its upward trajectory and China
in 2003–04 was Australia's
third largest export market. In 2003 Australia
exported goods and services worth $9b and $1b respectively to China.[130] Imports from China
are also steadily increasing.
Table 3.2: Merchandise Exports and Imports by selected countries
Country
|
Exports
|
Imports
|
Balance of
Trade
|
|
2001–02
$m
|
2002–03
$m
|
2003–04
$m
|
2001–02
$m
|
2002–03
$m
|
2003–04
$m
|
2002–03
$m
|
2003–04
$m
|
Japan
|
22,796
|
21,727
|
19,798
|
15,461
|
16,337
|
16,101
|
5,403
|
3,697
|
USA
|
12,008
|
10,365
|
9,453
|
21,488
|
22,494
|
19,945
|
-12,127
|
-10,492
|
China
|
7,816
|
8,803
|
9,212
|
11,275
|
13,789
|
15,339
|
-4,999
|
-5,427
|
Republic of Korea
|
9,818
|
9,115
|
8,473
|
4,722
|
4,753
|
4,878
|
4,363
|
3,595
|
New Zealand
|
7,669
|
8,127
|
8,080
|
4,740
|
5,019
|
5,056
|
3,101
|
3,024
|
Extracts from Merchandise Exports and Imports, By
country and country group, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Year Book
Australia, International accounts and trade; International merchandise trade,
Catalogue no. 1301.0–2004, p. 816 and Australian Bureau of Statistics, Year
Book Australia, International accounts and trade; International merchandise trade,
Catalogue no. 1301.0–2005, p. 834.
Complementarity in trade
3.8
The Chinese and Australian economies are complementary with
expectations for further growth and development.[131] China
is in the early growth stage of economic development where low cost
manufacturing is a central driver of economic growth. As it moves away from its
traditional rural base to becoming an industrialised country, China's
demand for resource commodities and energy will increase significantly. With
its abundant resource commodity and energy stores, Australia
is well placed to gain from China's
growing industrialisation. Australia
is a major exporter of primary commodities to China;
currently exporting iron ore, wool, aluminium, copper, and flat rolled iron.[132]
3.9
Many commentators referred to the complementarity between
the two economies and the enormous scope for Australia
to deepen its economic and commercial ties with China.[133] Importantly, the complementarities
extend beyond Australia's
natural and rural resources. DFAT submitted:
The Australia–China commercial relationship reflects comparative
economic strengths. Australia
predominantly exports unprocessed rural and resource commodities and some high
value manufactures and services to China.
Australian businesses also invest in a variety of high value manufacturing and
services industries in China.
China in turn
predominantly exports labour intensive or processing–derived manufactured goods
to Australia
and invests in a variety of Australian resource, processing, manufacturing and
services ventures.[134]
3.10
The services sector in particular holds great promise
for China and Australia.
China's
services sector is underdeveloped. On the other hand Australia
is an advanced economy with the services sector having a predominant place in
generating economic growth.[135] As
noted earlier, in 2003, Australia
exported goods and services worth $9b and $1b respectively to China.[136]
In the opinion of Mr Alan
Oxley, Director ITS Global:
In the longer term, the economic relationship will broaden and
will retain special characteristics, including some that do not traditionally
headline bilateral economic relationships—namely tourism, education and
migration—that will generate a case for deeper economic integration through an
FTA.[137]
3.11
The Chinese assessment of the trading relationship also
foresees a much broader trading relationship of strong mutual benefit. The
Chinese Ambassador to Australia,
Madame Fu,
stated:
Australia has rich reserves of energy and mineral resources
while China has growing demand and the volume of resources products it imported
from Australia in 2003 has reached 3 billion Australian dollars; Australia has
a mature agriculture [sector], especially a strong dairy sector and China has
an expanding market for dairy products as the living standard of the people is
raised; Australia has many excellent scientists who make constant progress in
their research and China has a huge manufacturing sector eager to adopt science
and new technology. Australia's
strong services sectors such as education, tourism, finance and legal
consulting can easily find demand in China.[138]
3.12
Clearly the complementarity between the two economies
offers enormous opportunities for growth and development. Trading relationships,
however, particularly with a country that is developing rapidly, do not
necessarily remain static. China's
continuing economic development and integration in the world economy has the
potential to reshape its trading patterns. The trading dynamics between Australia
and China will
change over time and the degree of complementarity is bound to shift.
3.13
The current trend suggests that Australia
is well placed to build on the solid trading base already established and to tap
into the opportunities presented by the changes occurring in China.
Indeed, the complementarity between the two economies is posed to broaden. Madam
Fu cited the cooperation between the two
nations in designing the Beijing Olympic Swimming Center to highlight not only
their comparative economic strengths but the potential for further similar
partnerships.
A joint team of Australian and Chinese engineers won the bidding
with a masterpiece of blue structure called 'water cubic'. Its smart and sophisticated
design is regarded as a wonder of physics. It looks like a huge cubic full of
blue water, highly modern in shape.[139]
The proposed Beijing Olympic
Swimming Centre. Photograph is courtesy of Arup, architecture firm PTW, the CSCEC (China State Construction and
Engineering Corporation).
3.14
The transformation of China's
economy has also attracted a wider range of Australian companies keen to trade
with China
especially in the services sector. Mr Harrowell
noted that China
is 'no longer the exclusive province of the BHPs and the Telstras; medium–sized
companies are able to seriously look at China
and establish there'.[140]
3.15
Hunt and Hunt Lawyers made a similar observation. It
suggested that the profile of Australian businesses seeking to work in and with
Chinese companies has changed dramatically over the last decade. It noted:
In the last ten years there has been the growth of small to
medium Australian businesses seeking to either work with China
or in many cases establish their own office in China.
This has been particularly so in the service industries with
Australian architects and engineering firms establishing branches in China
which are proving very successful with major projects relating to the Olympic
Games and capturing work generally because of the demand in the Chinese market
for these skills.
Smaller Australian listed companies are also venturing into China
with success for example gold mining companies including Sino Gold NL and recently
Golden Tiger Mining NL.[141]
3.16
ACIL Tasman further underlined the growing diversity of
firms entering the Chinese market. It referred to several Australian banks, law
firms and insurance companies as well as companies involved in mineral
exploration and education services now operating in China.
It noted that many of these enterprises which have found success in niche
markets are small to medium companies.[142]
3.17
Proximity is another advantage that assists the trading
relationship. Transport and travel distances are not as great and costs are
lower to get products to market when compared to some European and American
markets.[143] Australia
also operates in the same time zone.[144]
Trade deficit with China
3.18
Australia
runs a trade deficit with China.
In 2002–03, the deficit in merchandise trade increased by $1,540 million to
reach $4,999 million. This was due to a $2,517 million increase in imports but only a $977 million increase in
exports.[145] According to the ABS:
Imports of most commodity groups increased particularly office and
automatic data processing machines (up $374m) and telecommunication and sound
recording and reproducing equipment (up $326m). The largest increase in exports
were metalliferous ores and metal scrap (up $254m) and petroleum, petroleum products
and related materials (up $201m).[146]
3.19
In 2005, the deficit with China
rose further and stood at $5,427 million.[147]
3.20
According to the Minister for Trade, the Hon.
Mark Vaile,
MP, Australia's
trade deficit with China
is expected to improve but will rely on a boost from the export of resources to
narrow the deficit. In this case from 2006 the first deliveries of the $25
billion gas deal between the North West Shelf and Aus/ALNG in Guangdong
Province will begin to flow.
3.21
Some have expressed concern at Australia's
growing reliance on commodity exports to China
to contain the deteriorating balance of trade figures.[148] The Australian Manufacturing
Workers' Union saw not only the rate of increase but the
composition of the deficit as a major problem. It noted that Australia's
exports to China
are overwhelmingly dominated by primary products while Australian imports from China
are dominated by manufactured goods. It submitted:
China's
hunger for resources may indeed be a boon for some parts of the Australian
economy. However, the successful economies of the future will not be sustained
on the exportation of resources. In the face of increasing competition from China,
Australia can
and must do more to encourage the growth of (strategic) high value added
manufacturing.[149]
3.22
It recommended that states and federal governments work
toward improving Australia's
trade performance which would involve a commitment to a co–ordinated strategy
to ensure the future of the Australian manufacturing industry in a competitive
world. In March 2005, Professor Ross
Garnaut stated:
The high export prices that have been the dominant element in
the recent lift in terms of trade are correctly attributed to the strength of
the Chinese demand for energy and metals at a time of reasonably strong global
economic growth. They are vulnerable to correction, either with any setback to
Chinese economic growth (and we would be prudent to expect China,
like all market economies, to have cyclical downturns from time to time), or in
other major economies.[150]
3.23
Clearly, consideration must be given to Australia's
growing dependency on commodity exports to China.
Chapter 6, which deals with Australia's
manufacturing sector, examines this matter. A number of witnesses, however,
reminded the committee that while important, China
is part of a much broader and complex trading network for Australia.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) noted:
There is little doubt that it [China]
will grow in importance over the coming decades. The main challenge, I think,
for the Australian government and Australian business community is how we position
ourselves to best identify and realise those opportunities whilst balancing a
whole range of different pressures that come with that. China
is important, but it is not the totality of the future. Australian business
trades with the whole world. We have to compete with the whole world and that
means in Australia
and in China.[151]
Committee
view
3.24
The committee notes the growing trade deficit with China
and Australia's
heavy reliance on its exports to China,
in particular raw materials, to buttress Australia's
balance of trade. This is a development that all state governments and
particularly the federal government must take into account when formulating
their trade and industry policy. Australia's
growing dependency on China
as a major trading partner also highlights an earlier observation by the
committee that Australia
needs to be fully aware of changing circumstances in China
and their implications for Australia.
It gives further substance to the committee's suggestion that Australia
build up a reserve of China
analysts ready to advise decision makers on developments in China
and trends likely to influence the pattern of trade between the two countries.
Conclusion
3.25
This chapter highlighted the growing importance of China
to Australia's
economy. It found that:
-
both countries desire to strengthen economic
ties and have taken definite steps toward a free trade agreement;
-
China and Australia's economies are
complementary with potential for deepening and broadening the relationship;
-
the transformation of China's economy presents
opportunities for Australian businesses and is attracting a wider range of
Australian companies;
-
to take advantage of the opportunities on offer
in China and to better anticipate developments in that country, the Australian
government and businesses need to have access to China specialists.
3.26
The goodwill that exists between Australia
and China and
the mutually beneficial nature of their trading relationship does not
necessarily mean that the trade relationship is problem free. The following chapter
examines the overall business environment in China.
It looks at the opportunities available to Australian companies and also some
of the main obstacles that hinder trade between them.
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