CHINA — TRADE
RELATIONS
1170. Hon ROBIN SCOTT to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
I refer to the recent demand by the
Chinese government to stop its mills from purchasing Australian cotton. I refer
also to reports that Australia's multibillion-dollar cotton industry
has become the latest victim of a growing trade war with China, and that
industry bodies are scrambling to understand the changes to export conditions.
(1) What is the
McGowan government doing to protect our industries from increasing Chinese
trade hostility?
(2) Does the
McGowan government support the federal government's attempts to find
new markets?
Hon SUE ELLERY
replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and
Innovation advises the following.
(1) The state
government maintains strong economic relations with China. The value of Western
Australia's merchandise exports to China in 2019–20 was $98.5 billion,
representing 54 per cent of the state's total merchandise exports.
China is Western Australia's largest market for a number of the state's
key export commodities, including iron ore, nickel, copper and lithium.
(2) The state
government is continuing to pursue opportunities for Western Australian
businesses in a range of markets globally to support economic growth and create
jobs in Western Australia.