Club Lunch – Why Protectionists Will Not Win: Australia Champions Open Trade

Rising protectionism, a more interdependent world, and disruptive technology are challenging policy and commercial decision making. Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Steven Ciobo discussed Australia’s strategy to champion an open, rules-based trading environment, and confront the challenges head-on in the belief that this is key to success and growth in the region, including China. He cited Australia’s Asian trade agreements, the TPP11 and efforts in the WTO, as proof. The minister asked: how in this environment do we maintain support for free trade and investment rules that have helped improve the lives of millions of people?

Steven Ciobo was sworn in as Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment in February 2016. He previously served as the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade and Investment. In these roles Mr. Ciobo championed economic integration in the Pacific through private sector-led growth and promoted the benefits of Australia’s Free Trade Agreements. Mr. Ciobo was first elected to the Australian Parliament in 2001. Before entering Parliament, he built a professional career as an executive in the economic reform unit at international firms Coopers & Lybrand and, later, PricewaterhouseCoopers.