Ex-Australian PM Morrison to address China’s ‘economic coercion’ at US House panel hearing

Scott Morrison will be highlighting China’s ‘persistent and pernicious’ economic pressure tactics against democracies

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will discuss China’s economic coercion tactics before a US House panel, focusing on strained Australia-China relations and recent trade tensions. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 5:35pm, 19 Jul 2025Updated: 5:38pm, 19 Jul 2025

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will testify at a US House panel hearing on Wednesday about countering China’s “economic coercion against democracies,” the committee said on Friday.

Former US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel will also testify before the House Select Committee on China.

Relations with China, already rocky after Australia banned Huawei from its 5G broadband network in 2018, cooled further after Canberra called for an independent investigation into the origins of Covid-19.

China responded by imposing tariffs on Australian commodities, including wine and barley, and limited imports of Australian beef, coal and grapes, moves described by the United States as “economic coercion.”

Morrison was defeated in a bid for re-election in 2022.

Reuters reported this week that Canberra was close to an agreement with Beijing that would allow Australian suppliers to ship five trial canola cargoes to China, sources familiar with the matter said, a move towards ending a years-long freeze in the trade. China imposed 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian canola meal and oil this year amid strained diplomatic ties.

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