Australia navigating US relationship with ‘eyes open’ as Trump begins tariffs, Wong says
Penny Wong has reacted to Donald Trump’s move to slap tariffs on Canadian goods worth tens of billions.
Breaking News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Albanese government is navigating the Australia-US relationship with “eyes open” after Donald Trump slapped Canada with 25 per cent tariffs, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said.
The US President over the weekend followed through with his election promise to hit Canada, Mexico and China with levies, triggering countermeasures from all three countries.
Canada is one of Australia and the US’ closest allies and a member of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance.
Senator Wong said on Monday Mr Trump was “doing exactly what he said he would do, and we shouldn’t be surprised by these announcements”.
“In my engagements while I was in Washington for the inauguration, including with my counterpart, Secretary Rubio and other members of the Trump administration, I made very clear where Australia sits,” she told the ABC.
“We are a country with whom the US has a trade surplus and all goods enter from the US, under our free trade agreement, enter Australia without duties or tariffs or any other barriers.”
Mr Trump has justified the tariffs by claiming they aim to force the countries to stop illegally-made fentanyl getting smuggled into the US.
The synthetic opioid has been linked to tens of thousands of deaths over the past decades.
Asked if Canberra should stand in solidarity with the allies, like Canada, facing the receiving end of Mr Trump’s America first agenda, Senator Wong said dodged, saying instead that she “was very pleased to have engagement with the Trump administration on Australia’s behalf from the very first day of the administration commencing”.
Pressed further on whether US allies, including Australia, could collectively pushback against some elements of Mr Trump’s agenda, she said against that he was “implementing the agenda he was elected to implement”.
“And I appreciate that there is a lot of commentary about it, but I’m a realist,” Senator Wong said.
“Our government will navigate this just as we have navigated the … years that since we’ve been elected to government, including strengthening and deepening our relationship with the United States.”
Originally published as Australia navigating US relationship with ‘eyes open’ as Trump begins tariffs, Wong says
Major turnaround in Aussie habit
Aussies have returned to the stores on the back of cost-of-living relief, lifting consumer spending for the first time in nearly two years.
‘Owe her nothing’: Ita’s shock emails about sacked ABC host
Former ABC chair Ita Buttrose asked if host Antoinette Lattouf could “come down with the flu or Covid” before she was taken off air, according to emails revealed in court.