Blame ‘unfriendly’ Trump tariffs on Albanese, Rudd

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a big mistake in failing to demonstrate the basic courtesy of paying Donald Trump a visit upon his presidency as most other country leaders did.

Kevin Rudd failed to understand the obligations of an Australian ambassador to America and showed enormous naivety and disrespect in his vile rhetoric towards Trump, now coming back to embarrass the Albanese government and Australians.

We are also aware of Albanese’s long-held fear of Trump. Hardly a good basis for relationships between our countries and the success of AUKUS.

Perhaps Albanese needs to consider his own lack of initiative before he blames Trump. In fact, it appears Australia fared better in the tariff war than other countries. Any tariffs or bans can be negotiated but apparently not by Albanese or Rudd.

Peter Dutton has a clean sheet, the respect of Trump and the ability to succeed where Labor can’t.

Mary-Anne Higgins, Rose Park, SA

Media coverage of President Donald Trump’s tariffs emphasises their alleged unfairness (“This is not the act of a friend”). Yet it completely ignores the obvious fact Australia’s trade policy is, in crucial respects, grossly hypocritical.

Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton say they will defend the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme “at all costs”. The Trump administration objects to the PBS because it sets the prices and limits the quantities of pharma products imported into Australia. That’s unarguable.

The Americans also reckon that it imposes unnecessary data requirements and administrative hurdles, and needlessly delays the listing of new medicines. In short, the PBS sets price, quantity and other controls, and thereby hinders access to the Australian market; bluntly, it’s a “non-tariff barrier” to free trade. Yet the Australian (and many other governments’) position is unashamed: “We demand that America practise free trade, but we reserve our right to enforce protectionism against the US.” Methinks you can’t have it both ways.

Chris Leithner, Kingston, Tas

The US President has imposed a 10 per cent tariff on imports from Australia and Anthony Albanese has immediately stated that the tariff imposition is “not the act of a friend”.

In recent years, both Albanese and our US ambassador, Kevin Rudd, have made highly personal, critical comments about Donald Trump. Were their comments “the act of a friend”, and why would Trump give either of them the time of day?

Brian Barker, Bulimba, Qld

For years, I was always confident the US, despite its many mistakes, always had good intent; it meant well. With that confidence now shattered by its punitive tariffs, abuse of allies, threats and alignment with Russia, who is the force for good in the world?

It seems, alas, that the new US does, indeed, despise us all, unless we have something it wants.

Geoff O’Brien, Eltham, Vic

Much has been made of whether or not Anthony Albanese has the ability to deal with Donald Trump.

So it is natural to wonder if the ALP knows what it is doing. In the first week of the election campaign, there has been a concerted effort by government ministers, led by Albanese, to criticise Peter Dutton as being just like Donald Trump with Trumpian policies.

I can imagine Trump could not be sympathetic towards the Albanese government on learning of these election tactics critical of his government.

Geoff Ellis, Smithfield, Qld

It’s fascinating listening in on those rusted-on Donald Trump haters, being unsure how to now comment sufficiently disparagingly about the new President.

Do they just continue to flog Trump, or switch to Elon Musk, or hit the pair of them with a major hate sweep, and which of them is worse? And, do we still love Joe Biden, the two Clintons, the two Obamas, and Nancy Pelosi, not to mention Kamala Harris – or are they much too old hat? Life’s so difficult.

Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield, NSW

Anthony Albanese’s “not the act of a friend” response to the latest Donald Trump tariffs is unlikely to be understood in the White House. It’s hard to imagine that Trump has any friends – just transactional relationships.

Ian Pearson, Barton, ACT