Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I am asked about statements by the US president. I recall on 5 May he said this: 'Albanese I am very friendly with. He's very good. He's a friend of mine. I can only say that he's been very, very nice to me, very respectful to me, and you know we have had a very good relationship. I have no idea who the other person is that ran against him.' You will recall that, during the campaign when it came to tariffs, the former leader of the opposition said that he would be able to fix it and there would be no problem. The truth is that no country in the world has a lower tariff than Australia has right now, of 10 per cent. The arrangements that have been put in place are all at least that but in most cases have been higher—15 or 25—and some substantially higher. What we will do is continue to engage in Australia's national interest to advocate to get the best outcome possible with the United States.

I have said very clearly that tariffs are an imposition of a higher cost by the country that imposes it on itself. That is what is happening. Americans are still importing goods from the global community; they are just paying more for them, which is why I argued that tariffs are an act of economic self-harm and which is why Australia hasn't reciprocated with tariffs. Australia has a free trade agreement with the United States. We impose zero tariffs on them. That is our ideal. But the President of the United States has made it very clear with statements including that 'tariff' is the most beautiful word in the English language that that is not his position. We will continue to argue our case. Those opposite will continue to argue against Australia's interests.

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