China
Exploiting Advantage in the Australia–China Iron Ore Trade
Australia’s economic security is not significantly threatened by China’s investment in Guinea’s Simandou iron ore mine. Key risks originate from domestic productivity issues and over-securitizing economic ties with China.
Australia’s economic security is not meaningfully threatened by China’s investment in Guinea’s Simandou iron ore mine, as Australia remains a low-cost, indispensable supplier to Chinese steelmakers and retains strong market fundamentals. The greater risks lie in over-securitising economic engagement with China, the erosion of the rules-based trading system and weak domestic productivity growth — all of which are ultimately within Canberra’s control.
