Mr McClelland (Barton) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in writing, on 31 May 2007:
Has he, or his department, assessed when China is likely to exceed Japan as Australia’s major trading partner; if so, what does the research indicate.
Mr Downer (Mayo—Minister for Foreign Affairs)—The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:
Yes, DFAT assesses that based on 2006 rates of growth in trade, China will become Australia’s biggest trading partner by the end of 2007. Australia’s two-way trade with China grew 21 per cent in 2006, while our two-way trade with Japan grew by 8 per cent in the same period.