No images? Click here 3 April 2024Biden looks on the bright side of the Sunshine StateBy Samuel Garrett and Ava Kalinauskas, Research Associates In the 2024 race for the White House, abortion is a key issue — and it has found a new battleground in the state of Florida. On Monday, the Florida Supreme Court ruled 6–1 that a 15-week abortion ban is constitutional, which in turn paves the way for a six-week abortion ban, already signed into law last year by Republican governor Ron DeSantis, to take effect within 30 days. The court separately approved a ballot question to be asked during the November general election that would protect abortion rights if approved by Florida voters. Americans have overwhelmingly voted in favour of abortion rights in every state-level ballot initiative held since the 2022 Dobbs decision, and Democrats hope the ballot measure will help to galvanise support for President Joe Biden. The Biden campaign seized on the decisions to declare that Florida is once again “winnable.” As former president and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump weighs his options for a vice presidential running mate, he is reportedly concerned that several of the top contenders for the role hold overly conservative views on abortion. Trump has largely sought to distance himself from the issue since the overturning of Roe v Wade in 2022. You can read about the views of all the rumoured candidates in the new USSC explainer, Trump's VP shortlist: What Australians should know. Tune into the latest episode of the USSC Briefing Room podcast to hear how Trump will weigh up his critical choice of running mate amid intense pressure over the future of US reproductive rights. NEWS WRAPBiden and Xi talk Taiwan and trade
"Intense competition requires intense diplomacy to manage tension, address misperceptions, and prevent unintended conflict." Remarks by a Senior Biden administration official about President Biden’s phone call with President Xi Jinping | 2 April 2024. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Did you USSC?
OPPORTUNITY Visiting fellowships: JF-USSC Japan-Australia Dialogue and Exchange for Next GenerationThe Japan Foundation and United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney have established two parallel and interrelated Australia-Japan fellowship programs to strengthen connections between Australian and Japanese policy experts and research institutes and to cultivate the next generation of policy-savvy Japan experts based in Australia and Australia experts based in Japan. Participants will experience field trips to Japan or Australia, writing opportunities, research engagements with key government and industry players, and mentorship by senior USSC experts – including Dr Michael J. Green, CEO of the USSC and Professor Peter Dean, Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Program. Apply here by Monday, 10 June 2024, 12pm AEST. BY THE NUMBERS Australian exports to China of targeted goods fell to almost zero between 2021 and 2023By Georgia Edmonstone, Research Associate Trade and economics have increasingly become tools of political and diplomatic disputes between countries. In 2020, China placed trade restrictions on several Australian exports in response to the Australian Government calling for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. On 28 March 2024, following negotiations and a thawing of Australia-China relations, one of the last remaining tariffs – on wine – was lifted. The episode provides an interesting case study of a country’s response to economic coercion. Despite China being its largest trading partner, Australia was able to withstand most trade restrictions by finding markets in other countries, but this often came at an expense. Trade restrictions on Australian products began between May and November 2020 in the form of higher tariffs placed on wine, cotton and barley; biosecurity measures against some beef and timber; and unannounced bans (often known as non-tariff barriers) on coal and lobsters. As a result, Australia’s exports of certain goods to China fell to nearly zero. At the time, China accounted for 33 per cent of Australia’s export market, declining to 27.6 per cent in 2022. At the beginning of 2023 with a new Australian Government in place, China began lifting its trade restrictions and Australian exports to China of barley, cotton, timber, coal and copper resumed. Following the October 2023 meeting between Prime Minister Albanese and President Xi Jinping, Beijing indicated it would restart imports of lobster and review its tariffs on wine. In exchange, Australia would suspend its World Trade Organization (WTO) case against China. Wine tariffs were lifted on 28 March 2024, with hopes lobster imports will resume soon. Manage your email preferences | Forward this email to a friend United States Studies Centre |