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Australia’s diplomatic and trade relationship with other countries

22 Jun 2021

Q. In terms of diplomatic & trade relationships, for each of the following countries please indicate whether you think Australia should be working more closely with them, less closely with them or stay about the same as now?

TOTAL: Get closer Jun’21 Dec’20
New Zealand 50% 49%
United Kingdom 44% 38%
The European Union 37% 33%
United States 32% 28%
China 12% 15%

 

TOTAL Get closer Stay the same Become less close Don’t know
New Zealand 50% 34% 6% 10%
United Kingdom 44% 35% 8% 12%
The European Union 37% 41% 9% 13%
United States 32% 42% 14% 11%
China 12% 24% 51% 13%

 

TOTAL: Get closer Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
New Zealand 50% 49% 50% 43% 48% 57% 58% 46% 48% 48%
United Kingdom 44% 47% 41% 32% 38% 61% 47% 51% 24% 46%
The European Union 37% 40% 34% 29% 35% 45% 43% 33% 40% 35%
United States 32% 37% 26% 22% 29% 42% 33% 38% 15% 34%
China 12% 16% 9% 14% 13% 10% 16% 10% 20% 8%
Base (n) 1,087 527 560 328 374 385 378 407 98 102
  • New Zealand still remains Australians’ preferred diplomatic and trading partner (50% wanting closer ties), followed by the UK (44% closer ties, an increase from 38% in December), the EU (37%), and the US (32%).
  • Only 12% of Australians want closer ties with China – half (50%) want Australia to become less close with China, and a further quarter (24%) think our relationship with China should stay the same at most. 13% don’t know.
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