Australia was quick to reject a proposal from Beijing to join forces to counter U.S. tariffs — for the record, China is the Land Down Under’s largest trading partner.

“We are not going to be holding hands with China in respect of any contest that is going on in the world,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Sky News.

“We obviously don’t want to see a trade war between China and the US … [but] it’s about pursuing Australia’s national interests, not about making common calls with China,” he added.

China: let us hold hands in the face of Trump’s assault on the world economic systems

Richard Marles: nope. pic.twitter.com/lMLDYmLVqs

— Stephen Dziedzic (@stephendziedzic) April 9, 2025

An invitation to “join hands” was extended by China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, who appealed for “solidarity” after U.S. President Donald Trump said the combined tariff on Chinese goods would rise to 125%.

“The only way to stop the hegemonic and bullying behavior of the US in harvesting the whole world is to strengthen solidarity and collaboration, and to jointly resist,” the ambassador wrote in an op-ed run by Nine newspapers.

“Under the new circumstances, China stands ready to join hands with Australia and the international community to jointly respond to the changes of the world,” he added.

China responded to Trump’s tariffs by raising its own tariffs on American goods to 125%, according to The New York Times.

Trump imposed a unilateral 10% tariff on Australia, which represents the low end for all imports into the United States. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ruled out reciprocal tariffs against the United States.

“The administration’s tariffs have no basis in logic and they go against the basis of our two nations’ partnership. This is not the act of a friend,” Albanese told reporters.

Many on social media saw Australia’s rejection as another sign that Trump’s tariffs are slowly moving the needle in favor of the U.S. — here’s a quick sampling of responses, as seen on X:

Australia knows where the real strength lies standing firm with America, not China. Trump’s tariffs were tough, but they worked. And now, even our allies see that Beijing is the last place to be buddy-buddy with.

— Pregnant Redhead (@PregnantRedhead) April 11, 2025

Was this even a decision to be made or just a stupid plea that was DOA? Australia has been complaining for years that China was putting gigantic tariffs on their goods and making the trade balance completely lopsided

— Glenn Kim (@glenntkim) April 11, 2025

This is huge. Every time they hear “no” from a solid US trade partner, our position gets stronger. So do the positions of the other countries.

— Jeff On The Road (@jeffontheroads) April 11, 2025

Even Australia’s telling China to kick rocks. “Speak for ourselves” is code for we’re with Trump. The global order just got a MAGA upgrade.

— Tiago (@thenamestiago) April 11, 2025

The West needs to use this opportunity to galvanize against China and grow stronger together.

Nothing would piss the globalists off more than this.

— Dissident West (@dissidentwest) April 11, 2025

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Tom Tillison

Senior Staff Writer
Tom@bizpacreview.com

The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.

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