Latest news with #Anti-American
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says managing China-US relationships like ‘walking a tightrope'
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has described managing diplomacy with China and the US as a 'tightrope' amid growing scrutiny of the Albanese government's international strategy. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has acknowledged the difficulty of managing diplomatic relationships with China and the US, describing it as like 'walking a tightrope'. China has increased its global diplomatic reach in recent months as President Donald Trump's administration pares back America's international presence. Amid this balancing act, the Albanese government has been accused both of letting ties with the US weaken and of leaning too heavily into its relationship with China. 'I think diplomacy is often a tightrope,' Ms Wong told Sky News on Tuesday. 'In terms of the United States, they are our ally. They're our principal strategic partner. They are also our largest investment partner. None of that changes. 'China is our most important trading destination. And it is such an important power in our region. We know that there are times where we will disagree with what China articulates. 'But the world is not only those two relationships.' She emphasised that the government's foreign policy aim is to 'advance Australia's interests in all circumstances' - balancing cooperation and disagreement. 'We obviously live in a region where China is a very, very substantial power. We are also a US ally,' Ms Wong said. She also addressed points of disagreement with China, citing human rights issues and differences over international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. 'China seeks to become a predominant power in our region. Australia wants a balance, where no country dominates and no country is dominated,' she said. The remarks come amid ongoing scrutiny over Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's six-day diplomatic visit to China, which drew criticism for its perceived softness. — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 16, 2025 Shortly before the trip, President Trump said the US would impose additional tariffs on any country aligning themselves with the 'Anti-American' politics of the BRICS group. The BRICS organisation includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Critics argued that Mr Albanese taking the trip to China before having met President Trump sent a bad signal about the government's approach to international affairs. His itinerary included visits to a Giant Panda breeding centre and the Great Wall of China, alongside dining with President Xi Jinping. Former home affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo suggested Mr Albanese should have pursued a 'shorter, sharper' visit with 'blunt' discussions on Taiwan. Shadow Finance Minister James Paterson described the trip as 'indulgent', questioning whether 'a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas' was 'strictly necessary'. Mr Albanese defended the trip, calling it 'worthwhile' given the agreements signed on trade and tourism, and stressing the importance of fostering 'a stronger relationship'. On Australia's alliance with the United States, Ms Wong reaffirmed the importance of the partnership, describing the US as 'our principal strategic partner'. She highlighted the broader regional strategy, noting that engagement extends beyond the US and China to include countries such as Japan, India, and South Korea. The Foreign Minister also reiterated Australia's commitment to the AUKUS defence pact, calling it a 'win-win-win' for Australia, the US, and the UK.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Brics would end quickly if they 'ever form in meaningful way': Trump
US President Donald Trump on Friday repeated his threat to slap a 10% tariff on imports from members of the Brics group of developing nations and said the group would end very quickly if they ever formed in a meaningful way. 'When I heard about this group from Brics — six countries, basically — I hit them very, very hard. And if they ever really form in a meaningful way, it will end very quickly,' Trump said without naming the countries. 'We can never let anyone play games with us.' Trump also said he was committed to preserving the dollar's global status as a reserve currency and pledged to never allow the creation of a central bank digital currency in America. Trump announced the new tariff on July 6, saying it would apply to any countries aligning themselves with what he called the 'Anti-American policies' of the Brics group. With forums such as the G7 and G20 groups of major economies hamstrung by divisions and the disruptive 'America First' approach of the US president, the Brics group is presenting itself as a haven for multilateral diplomacy.
United News of India
3 days ago
- Business
- United News of India
Trump mocks BRICS nations, says his 10 pc tariff threat ‘hit them very hard'
Washington, July 19 (UNI) Doubling down on his 10% tariff threat against all BRICS countries, US President Donald Trump in press briefing yesterday claimed that he 'hit' the intra-governmental organisation 'very hard', adding that he will never allow another any the group's attempts at de-dollarisation, calling USD 'the king.' Mocking the multi-nation bloc's attempts at de-dollarisation, Trump, while talking about his administration's attempts at strengthening the US dollar said 'You have this little group called BRICS, it's fading out fast. But they wanted to take over the dominance of the dollar, and the standard of the dollar. 'Anybody that's in the BRICS consortium; we are going to tariff you 10%.' Reasserting that the USD will remain the world reserve currency for 'generations to come', he called losing the dollar's dominance akin to losing a world war. "When I heard about this group from BRICS, six countries, basically, I hit them very, very hard. And if they ever really form in a meaningful way, it will end very quickly," Trump said without naming the countries. "We can never let anyone play games with us." On June 7, Trump had threatened all countries who were aligning with BRICS an additional 10% tariff, claiming that the group's policies were 'anti-American.' 'Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. During the summit in Rio De Janeiro, BRICS countries had condemned the US tariffs and its strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. Stating that Washington's arbitrary tariffs were a violation of WTO rules, the member states noted that they 'threaten to reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains, and introduce uncertainty.' Focusing on creating a multi-polar world order and present an alternative to Western hegemony, in recent years, BRICS has attracted many countries who seek to shift from Western dominance, and seek greater representation. The bloc formed Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded considerably over the years, joined by Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Ethiopia, and Egypt. Additionally, while not members, BRICS also has trade partnerships with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malayasia, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Nigeria, Vietnam, Uganda. The bloc's eleven member nations alone represent over 40% of the world population, contribute to over 37.3% of the global GDP by PPP, control 40% of the global oil supply, 75% of rare earth minerals, and account for 50% of the world's solar power. They also have their own money lending bodies such as the New Development Bank, offering an alternative to the IMF, ADB, and World Bank. UNI XC ANV GNK
The Print
4 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Trump repeats 10% tariff threat on BRICS, says bloc would collapse if it ever united
Trump also said he was committed to preserving the dollar's global status as a reserve currency and pledged to never allow the creation of a central bank digital currency in America. 'When I heard about this group from BRICS, six countries, basically, I hit them very, very hard. And if they ever really form in a meaningful way, it will end very quickly,' Trump said without naming the countries. 'We can never let anyone play games with us.' Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday repeated his threat to slap a 10% tariff on imports from members of the BRICS group of developing nations and said the group would end very quickly if they ever formed in a meaningful way. Trump announced the new tariff on July 6, saying it would apply to any countries aligning themselves with what he called the 'Anti-American policies' of the BRICS group. With forums such as the G7 and G20 groups of major economies hamstrung by divisions and the disruptive 'America First' approach of the U.S. president, the BRICS group is presenting itself as a haven for multilateral diplomacy. Since issuing the threat, Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that the group was set up to hurt the United States and the dollar's role as the world's reserve currency. BRICS leaders have rejected the claim that the group is anti-American. Brazil in February nixed plans to push for a common currency during its presidency this year, but the group is advancing work on a cross-border payment system known as BRICS Pay that would facilitate trade and financial transactions in local currencies. The BRICS group expanded last year beyond Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to include members such as Iran and Indonesia. Leaders at the group's summit in Brazil voiced indirect criticism of U.S. military and trade policies. Trump has also taken aim at Brazil specifically, announcing a 50% tariff rate on its imports, starting in August, and launching a separate investigation into what Washington called Brazil's 'unfair' trading practices. This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also Read: India-Pakistan terms of engagement: H-word, M-word & the Trump hyphenation
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First Post
4 days ago
- Business
- First Post
'Brics fading out fast': Trump says can't let 'a little group play games' with dollar dominance
US President Donald Trump mocked the Brics group of nations, describing the economic bloc as a 'little group' that is 'fading away fast' read more Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (C) speaks during the first plenary session of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AFP US President Donald Trump on Friday took jabs at the BRICS group, calling the economic body a 'little group' that is 'fading out fast'. While taking potshots at the group of nations, Trump reiterated his earlier warning of imposing a 10 per cent tariff on any nation aligning with the group. Trump's wrath towards the group has been very apparent, with him often accusing the group of having 'anti-American policies'. In his rant against the BRICS, Trump took credit for weakening the group's effort to challenge the dominance of the American dollar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'There is a little group called Brics, and it is fading out fast. But the BRICS tried and wanted to take over the dollar and the dominance of the dollar and the standard of the dollar. I said that anybody in the BRICS consortium of nations, we are going to tariff you 10 per cent, and they had a meeting the following day. Almost nobody showed up,' the Potus said while talking about how he approaches global economic rivals. 'When I heard about this group of six countries in Brics, I hit them very hard, and if they ever really form in a meaningful way, it will end very quickly," he added. Without taking names of any particular country, Trump said: 'We can never let anyone play games with us.' While summing up his rant, the Potus made it clear that protecting the global reserve status of the US dollar is his administration's highest priority. 'We are not going to let the Dollar slide… If we lost the status of the Dollar as the world's reserve currency, it would be like losing a World War,' he said. Brics denies being 'Anti-American' It is pertinent to note that the BRICS group of nations initially started with Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Recently, the group expanded its membership, adding countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Ethiopia. What makes the group significant in the international arena is that the collective GDP of BRICS countries has reached over $31 trillion, accounting for approximately 27 per cent of the global GDP. This massive global GDP share makes BRICS one of the most influential economic groups in the world. Amid Trump's push-back, the economic group has frequently denied being ' anti-American'. Meanwhile, Trump has interestingly singled out Brazil by imposing additional penalties, including a 50 per cent tariff on imports starting in August. Trump took the measure, accusing Brazil of committing 'unfair' trade practices, an allegation Brazil has denied. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Brazil has stepped back from pushing for a common currency, the economic bloc is continuing to develop Brics Pay, a cross-border payment system aimed at promoting trade in local currencies. Despite Trump's repeated claims, there has been no evidence to show that BRICS aim to undermine the American dollar. However, the group's relevance came into question after both China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin decided to skip this year's leaders' summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
