Australian Leaders Reject U.S. Trade Grievances Ahead of Election

Australia’s prime ministerial candidates have ruled out negotiating with the United States on trade grievances listed in a newly released report. The annual U.S. National Trade Estimate report, published on Monday in Washington, identified Australia’s biosecurity, pharmaceutical, and news bargaining laws as unresolved issues affecting American exports.

Responding to the report on the campaign trail for Australia’s upcoming general election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made it clear on Tuesday that these issues were not open for discussion. “I have very clearly indicated Australia is not negotiating over the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. We are not negotiating over the news bargaining code. We will not undermine our biosecurity,” Albanese told reporters in South Australia. “Those issues are not up for negotiation. Not on my watch.”

Australia’s strict biosecurity laws prohibit the import of uncooked American beef, pork, and poultry products, as well as apples and pears, to protect native wildlife from foreign diseases. In addition, Monday’s report from the U.S. Trade Representative raised concerns about Australia’s pharmaceutical laws and the news media bargaining code, which requires social media giants like Google and Meta to pay for Australian news content hosted on their platforms.

Peter Dutton, leader of the opposition Coalition and the alternative prime minister, said he agrees with Albanese’s position on not negotiating the issues raised in the U.S. report. “I will stand up for our country’s interests every day if I am given the great honor of being prime minister,” Dutton stated.

A poll published by Nine Entertainment newspapers on Tuesday found that 60 percent of Australians believe Trump’s second term has been a bad outcome for Australia. This is an increase from 40 percent who expressed the same view following the U.S. election in November 2024.

Forty-six percent of respondents agreed that Australia should strengthen ties with other countries in the region in response to Trump’s actions since taking office, while 19 percent disagreed. On the AUKUS defense agreement, 34 percent of respondents said Australia should pause or withdraw from the pact, 25 percent disagreed, and 41 percent remained undecided or neutral.

In a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urged Australian politicians to stand up for the country against the U.S. administration. “The United States is a friend, but my plea to Australian politicians is: get off your knees and stand up for Australia,” Turnbull said.

He criticized efforts to appease Trump, saying, “Trying to get into a race of who can do the most sucking up, particularly with Mr. Trump, as I know from direct experience, is not the way to advance your interests or your nation’s interests.” Turnbull served as prime minister and leader of the Coalition from 2015 to 2018.

Meanwhile, Albanese and Dutton confirmed on Tuesday that their first debate of the election campaign will be held in western Sydney on April 8.