Anthony Albanese on Tariffs
TL;DR
Anthony Albanese asserts that the United States' tariffs on Australia are unwarranted and must be removed based on the existing free trade agreement.
Key Points
The Prime Minister declared the US tariffs, which were not unexpected, as totally unwarranted and not the 'act of a friend' on April 3, 2025.
He explicitly stated the government would not seek to impose reciprocal tariffs, opting instead for constructive engagement via existing Free Trade Agreement mechanisms.
To bolster the economy against unfair competition, he announced plans to strengthen the anti-dumping regime and establish a Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve.
Summary
Anthony Albanese firmly opposes the unilateral tariffs imposed on Australia by the United States administration, stating they are totally unwarranted and lack a basis in logic given the existing US-Australia Free Trade Agreement. He has consistently argued that any reciprocal tariff should be zero, emphasizing that this action undermines the two nations' partnership and shared values. Despite this firm stance, the Prime Minister has ruled out imposing reciprocal tariffs, preferring to utilize the established dispute resolution mechanisms within the trade agreement to seek a removal of the levies.
He framed the government's response as a commitment to standing up for Australian jobs and industry while simultaneously demonstrating economic resilience through export diversification, citing that trade with the US is less than five percent of total exports. To safeguard domestic sectors against unfair competition, he committed to strengthening the anti-dumping regime and providing financial support to affected industries. Furthermore, his government will not compromise on core Australian institutions like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or national biosecurity measures, positioning these as non-negotiable priorities.
Key Quotes
It should be zero.
Frequently Asked Questions
Anthony Albanese maintains a strong negative position on US tariffs imposed on Australia, considering them unwarranted and contrary to the spirit of the Free Trade Agreement. He asserts that any reciprocal tariff rate should be zero and has committed to using existing dispute resolution mechanisms to have them removed.
Yes, the Prime Minister explicitly ruled out imposing reciprocal tariffs in response to the US action. He stated the government would not 'join a race to the bottom' but would instead stand up for Australian interests through established trade frameworks.
Anthony Albanese made it clear that core Australian institutions are not up for negotiation, specifically mentioning the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and maintaining current biosecurity measures. He views these as essential to the nation's interests and values.
Sources5
Press conference - Parliament House, Canberra
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared the newly announced US tariffs on a...
Statement on USA Tariffs
US tariffs on Australia 'should be zero', Albanese says as leaders prepare for end of Trump's 90-day pause
Australia says US tariffs not act of friend, rules out reciprocal move
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.