A ban on the purchase of Chinese goods, issued by an Australian state government, has raised concerns it could threaten trade in the region.
The ban however reflects an international trend in protectionism which has surfaced most strongly in China itself.
The New South Wales (NSW) State Government announced in its budget yesterday that government departments must favor Australian-made products, stating that AU$4 billion of government expenditure should be sourced from local companies.
NSW has the largest economy in Australia, contributing close to 32 percent of GDP.
The ban on China-made products stems from the discovery by local media last year that NSW police and ambulance uniforms were being imported from China. Read more.