Penny Wong coming home from US ‘empty-handed’, opposition says

Australia’s chief diplomat is coming home from the US “empty-handed”, according to the opposition.

The opposition says Foreign Minister Penny Wong is returning from the US “empty-handed” after failing to get guarantees on tariffs, AUKUS or a face-to-face between Anthony Albanese and Donald Trump.

Senator Wong met with her US counterpart overnight on the sidelines of a Quad summit in Washington.

She also had one-on-ones with the foreign ministers of India and Japan.

While all the ministers walked away from the summit touting co-operation, Senator Wong was unable to name a tangible outcome.

Acting opposition foreign affairs spokesman Angus Taylor said on Wednesday the trip was a wasted opportunity to check in on key Australian concerns, including how the US’ AUKUS “review is going” and that the “Americans fully understand the importance of AUKUS for them as well”.

Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor says Foreign Minister Penny Wong is coming home from the US ‘empty-handed’. Picture: Martin Ollman / NewsWire

“On trade barriers, we need to make sure that we get the very best outcome for Australia we possibly can,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“We’re seeing other countries now getting exemptions, we should be seeking exactly the same.

“And of course, alliances and relationships are built on personal relationships, and it’s absolutely crucial, despite their differences, that the president of the United States and the prime minister of Australia are able to sit down and work through these crucial issues.”

Mr Taylor suggested the Prime Minister was “better able to and more interested in getting a meeting with the president of China than the president of the United States”.

“It’s time to get serious about this,” he said.

“Penny Wong will come home empty-handed – that’s not what we needed right now.”

Meanwhile, Senator Wong agreed to disagree with US State Secretary Marco Rubio, accepting the Trump administration’s position while saying Australia would continue to advocate for Washington to uphold the bilateral free trade agreement.

Speaking after the talks, Senator Wong said she and Mr Rubio discussed critical minerals – the centrepiece of a tariff carve-out proposal to the Trump administration.

Asked if there had been any progress with Australia’s offer, she dodged it altogether.

US State Secretary Marco Rubio has called for ‘concrete actions’ at the Quad summit. Picture: Allison Robbert / AFP

“On tariffs, our position remains unchanged, which is we have a free-trade agreement,” Senator Wong told reporters.

“That free trade agreement enables free trade, and we continue to honour that free trade agreement, and American goods and services continue to enter Australia tariff-free in accordance with that free trade agreement.

“And the government’s position remains we want to see that free trade agreement honoured.”

She also dodged when asked if she was concerned about Anthony Albanese’s inability to secure a meeting with the US President.

“I think that the Trump administration and President Trump has made very clear to the world that he envisages a different role for America in the world,” Senator Wong said.

“We understand that, and we respect that. We continue to advocate for our interests.”

Senator Wong added that “our strategic partnership is deep”.

Today @SecRubio hosted the second Quad FMM this year - a signal of the importance of our partnership and the urgency of the challenges we face. We agreed that it’s never been more crucial to take concrete actions that support peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. pic.twitter.com/UJEswuaQ71

— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) July 1, 2025

“It is trusting, it is to the benefit of both nations, and I think that is understood here in Washington,” she said.

In a readout of the meeting, the US State Department said Mr Rubio and Senator Wong met “to deepen co-operation through the US-Australia Alliance to enhance security in the Indo-Pacific and discuss co-operation on building secure critical mineral supply chains”.

“As a proud Indo-Pacific nation, the United States will continue to deepen co-operation with Quad partners to protect our shared interests in the region,” it said.

‘Concrete actions’

The top diplomats of Australia, India, Japan and the US wrapped up their Quad summit agreeing to “support peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific” against a backdrop of an increasingly militaristic China.

The Quad is a partnership broadly seen as a check on China’s economic and military might – a task Mr Trump has signalled will be the key foreign policy focus of his second term.

Met with the Quad Foreign Ministers to discuss our work together to increase peace, stability, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. pic.twitter.com/53TR6KEZ7s

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 1, 2025

In his opening remarks, Mr Rubio spruiked the forum as “a great partnership” but said it needed to become a “vehicle for action”.

“These are very important strategic partners and allies of the United States, and together we have a lot of shared priorities,” he said overnight.

“I think there are many global problems but also problems that we face in our respective countries that can be solved by us co-operating together.

“One of the challenges … is turning meetings and gatherings where we talk about ideas and concepts into a vehicle for action, into a vehicle for actually being able to take concrete actions.

“And that’s the next step in this great partnership, is to actually begin to see concrete actions and steps being taken in conjunction with one another, in co-ordination with one another, in partnership with one another for the benefit of our respective countries and ultimately of many other countries in the world.”

Just finished a very productive meeting of Quad Foreign Ministers in Washington DC.

Discussed how to make Quad more focused and impactful on contemporary opportunities and challenges.

Today’s gathering will strengthen strategic stability in the Indo - Pacific and keep it free… pic.twitter.com/M9Vg5NaxMR

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 1, 2025

Senator Wong echoed Mr Rubio’s comments, declaring Quad “an important partnership for the world” and “for our region”.

“The importance of our partnership is highlighted by the urgency of the strategic challenges that we all face,” she said.

“In his testimony to his confirmation hearings, the Secretary spoke about the future of the 21st century being made in this region, being shaped in this region. And Australia agrees.”

Senator Wong acknowledged that “unfortunately we meet against the backdrop of conflict and of escalating competition”.

“So it has never been more important for us to harness our collective strength and peace for stability, for prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and for all our peoples,” she said.

Originally published as Penny Wong coming home from US ‘empty-handed’, opposition says