We warned about this China deal done by Tony Abbott. Australia’s free trade deal with China was sold as a win for exporters, investors and the national interest. But buried in the fine print was a mechanism that allowed foreign corporations to sue Australia if government decisions hurt their profits.
Now, with Donald Trump’s trade war back on the agenda and tensions between Washington and Beijing reshaping global politics, Australia is once again caught in the middle. Michael West reports on how the China Australia Free Trade Agreement, the Darwin Port lease, Clive Palmer’s billion dollar legal fight and investor state dispute settlement reveal the real cost of signing away sovereignty in the name of “free trade”.
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Articles mentioned:
“Free trade deal”, what? Chinese sue Australia over Darwin Port
“Free trade deal”, what? Chinese sue Australia over Darwin Port
Trade deal really translates to ‘we lose’
Andrew Robb’s $880k China consultancy started day before 2016 election
Andrew Robb’s $880k China consultancy started day before 2016 election
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00:00: Australia caught between China and America
03:04: How trade deals let corporations sue governments
07:02: Clive Palmer and the cost of ISDS
Michael West established Michael West Media in 2016 to focus on journalism of high public interest, particularly the rising power of corporations over democracy. West was formerly a journalist and editor with Fairfax newspapers, a columnist for News Corp and even, once, a stockbroker.
