Trump Tariffs a ‘Test’ for the Australian Government: Opposition

US President Donald Trump speaks to the press after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on January 31, 2025. Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP

Coalition frontbencher Senator Bridget McKenzie has labelled the threat of Trump tariffs a “test” for the Albanese government amid the shifting global trade landscape.

She pointed out the importance of the United States as a trading partner.

“America is our third largest trading partner. They sell more to us than we do to them. But these tariff issues, particularly on aluminium and steel, are potentially going to have flow on impact for us. And it’s a real test for Ambassador [Kevin] Rudd, for Penny Wong, for our trade minister, to see that they can make sure that our national interest is upheld,” she said on the Today Show on Feb. 4.

“America is our largest investor, so this is a serious issue. I don’t think the prime minister has a lot of faith in Ambassador Rudd. He’s had to dispatch Deputy Prime Minister [Richard] Marles off on a rescue mission to the United States ... in coming days.”

The Albanese government has so far been positive about the Trump administration, pointing out they are doing exactly as they promised to do before the election.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth provided reassurance the Australian government was putting forward a strong case to the Trump administration on Australia’s free trade agreement with the United States.

“I know that not only does our Ambassador to the U.S., but our prime minister, our foreign minister, our trade minister, are putting forward our case to the American administration about what the mutually beneficial arrangements are of our free trade agreement with the United States,” she said.

“We’ve been working, and we‘ll continue to work very hard to show why Australia is in a unique position. Of course, America benefits as well from our free trade arrangements, as does Australian exports. So, we’ll keep putting that strong case forward and making sure that we’re representing our national interest.”

This comes after Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed confidence the Labor government could navigate the threat of tariffs.

Wong has already met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio just a day after the Trump inauguration, which she attended on Jan. 20.

The foreign minister pointed out that Trump was doing exactly what he said he would do and said Australia should not be surprised by the initial Canada and Mexico tariffs announcements on Feb. 3.

“We are a country in relation to whom the U.S. has a trade surplus and all goods enter from the U.S. under our free trade agreement, enter Australia without duties or tariffs or any other barriers. So, we are in a position where the U.S. has a trade surplus with us,”  she told ABC radio.

Marles, who is also the defence minister, recently had a conversation with U.S. Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth and is set to travel to Washington within days to engage with the new administration.

“We’re focussed on our engagement with the Trump Administration. I spoke with Secretary Hegseth during the week. Penny Wong has met her counterpart. That’s what we’ve been focussed on doing,” Marles said on Jan. 3.

Trump has since announced a 30-day pause on tariffs on Canada and Mexico after the nations agreed to send 10,000 personnel to secure their borders and end the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl into the United States.

“I am very pleased with this initial outcome, and the Tariffs announced on Saturday will be paused for a 30 day period to see whether or not a final Economic deal with Canada can be structured,” he said on Truth Social.

Greens Motion on Trump

Meanwhile, the Australian Greens are putting forward an urgency motion to the Senate on April 4 claiming that Trump is a “threat to Australia.”

“That the election of President Trump is a threat to Australia and the world, including his attacks on human rights, democracy and climate action, that the toxic influence of billionaires and corporations in political decision making must end, and that we must do everything we can to stop Trump-style politics coming to Australia,” the motion put forward by Greens Senator Nick McKim states.