5 days Ago By Andrew Brown and Kat Wong
Australia is prepared for the impact of looming tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, the prime minister says, while insisting he's best placed to deal with the US president. Login or signup to continue reading Mr Trump will unveil the latest round of tariffs on Thursday morning, Australian time, and his so-called "Liberation Day" is threatening to up-end the federal election campaign. Tariffs on pharmaceuticals and agricultural sector imports are expected, as well as measures responding to Australia's news bargaining code, which forces social media companies to pay media outlets for content on their platforms.
Campaigning in Melbourne, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said while talks were ongoing to get an exemption, the government was ready for the US tariff announcement. "We are certainly prepared for whatever outcome is determined," he told reporters on Wednesday. "Australia's exports to the United States represent about under five per cent of our goods exports, so let's have some perspective.
" Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who's also campaigning in Melbourne, said while there was bipartisanship on not compromising on pharmaceuticals or biosecurity arrangements in exchange for exemptions, he would be more assertive with Mr Trump. "If I needed to have a fight with Donald Trump or any other world leader to advance our nation's interests, I'd do it in a heartbeat, and I'll put the Americans on notice," he told Sky News. "I'm not going to allow the president of the United States or the prime minister of the United Kingdom or anyone else to walk over me or to walk over our country.
"At the moment they see a prime minister who is weak and flapping in the breeze." But the prime minister said an aggressive approach would not work. "Peter Dutton will always dial things up to 11," he said.
"He thinks this is a contest of who can say the most aggro things. "That's not the way diplomacy works. "The last time around, he was praising President Trump, rather than standing up for Australia.
" Mr Dutton said he would stand up to the US president, dismissing concerns it could disrupt the AUKUS security pact. "I don't care whether it is President Trump or any other world leader, my job is to stand up for Australians and I have the strength and experience to be able to do that," he told reporters in Melbourne. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has all but conceded Australia is unlikely to avoid being hit.
"We'll keep working hard for the best outcome, but I think all of us are realistic," she told ABC Radio on Wednesday. Nationals Leader David Littleproud said if Mr Trump imposed tariffs on agricultural imports, it would result in economic self-harm for the US. "If he looks at Australian beef and he wants to slap it on Australian beef, he, in fact, will be slapping it on his favourite food - a Big Mac - because most of the meat that goes into a Big Mac is lean beef and it comes from Australia," Mr Littleproud told ABC TV.
As the tariff threat looms, both party leaders are using the fifth day on the campaign trail to shore up support in marginal seats in Melbourne, which will be key to deciding the election. Mr Albanese visited a childcare centre in Deakin, currently held by the coalition, to spruik Labor's submission to the industrial umpire backing a rise to low-paid workers. Meanwhile, Mr Dutton visited a home in the outer suburban seat of McEwen, an electorate on Melbourne's outskirts the coalition is looking to win back.
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