Though the United States, Canada and European Union have slapped hefty tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) in the name of national security or combating excessive state subsidies, Australia – while still broadly in step with the West politically – has remained open to Chinese-made EVs and other products aiding in its green transition.

Last week’s lifting of tariffs on lobster brought a particularly nasty chapter in Australia-China trade relations to a close. But zooming out paints a more sobering picture of global trade.