Ex-Australian PM Morrison to testify before US House panel on countering China's economic actions

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to testify at a US House panel hearing on countering China's 'economic coercion against democracies.' The hearing will take place on Wednesday, with former US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel also scheduled to testify before the House Select Committee on China.

Relations between Australia and China have been strained, particularly after Australia's ban on Huawei from its 5G network in 2018 and its call for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19. In response, China imposed tariffs on Australian commodities and limited imports of certain goods, actions labeled as 'economic coercion' by the United States.

Morrison, who lost a reelection bid in 2022, will provide testimony at the hearing. Recent reports suggest that Canberra is nearing an agreement with Beijing to resume canola exports to China, signaling a potential thaw in trade relations.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China this week indicates a positive shift in bilateral ties. Emanuel, a vocal critic of China, has highlighted Beijing's use of economic coercion as a key tactic in its foreign policy.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington has not issued a statement on the matter.