Anthony Albanese joins APEC leaders’ call for ‘predictable’ trade, backs Kevin Rudd as Australia’s ambassador to US

Anthony Albanese joined calls for “predictable” free and fair trade ahead of Donald Trump’s promised huge import tariffs – and revealed how long Kevin Rudd will remain in the US.

Australia has joined a calls for “predictable” free and fair trade ahead of Donald Trump taking office on the promise of imposing huge import tariffs, while Anthony Albanese says Kevin Rudd will remain Australia’s ambassador to the US for at least another year.

The Prime Minister wrapped up his three-day trip to Peru on Sunday morning for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where world leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining open trade, but were unable to reach a consensus about the economic impact of wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

World leaders participate in the traditional family photo during the APEC summit, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese standing on the far left. Picture: AFP

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the Sultan of Brunei, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, and Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau. Picture: AFP

Australia joined like-minded countries in raising concerns about the conflicts, which was noted in a statement at the end of the summit the APEC chair as the 21 member economies – which includes Russia and China – were not able to reach a consensus on the issue.

Anthony Albanese with Justin Trudeau in Lima, Peru. Picture: AFP

Outgoing US President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping met for their last formal face-to-face meeting before Mr Trump takes office on the sidelines of the summit, discussing cyber crime, trade, Taiwan, the South China Sea and Russia.

During the two-hour meeting in the capital Lima, Mr Xi vowed to work with the incoming Trump administration despite the looming threat of up to 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports to the US.

As the two superpowers met, Mr Albanese arrived in Brazil where he is expected to have his meeting with Mr Xi in the coming days during the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.

The annual “family photo” at APEC was delayed slightly as US President Joe Biden arrived several minutes late. Picture: AFP

Joe Biden speaks with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Picture: AFP

Despite speculation about Mr Rudd’s position due to his repeated disparaging remarks and criticisms of Mr Trump in the past, Mr Albanese again backed the former PM as his pick to represent Australia in Washington DC.

“He’s Australia’s ambassador to Washington and he’s doing a very important job,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

Asked if Mr Rudd would remain in the role for a year or more, Mr Albanese replied: “yes”.

Earlier in Lima, Mr Albanese was photographed waving alongside world leaders in a brown Peruvian scarf made from the wool of a vicuña – a native animal similar to an alpaca or llama – for the annual APEC “family photo”.

Mr Albanese stood at the far left of the group next to Brunei’s sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, while Mr Biden was at the opposite end of the picture, which was arranged in country alphabetical order.

As the “lame duck” leader, Mr Biden’s influence at the APEC summit was limited, while the prospect of a universal trade tariffs of up to 20 per cent under an incoming Mr Trump dominated the economic forum.

In the 2024 APEC leaders’ “Machu Pichu declaration” released on Sunday, all countries acknowledged the importance of “free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive and predictable trade”.

Speaking at the conclusion of the summit, Mr Albanese said his international counterparts were committed to address the challenges of global inflation, supply chain and food security and advancing renewable energy.

“My task here as the Australian Prime Minister has been to ensure that Australian jobs are protected, and indeed, created at home by improved trade, by addressing supply chain challenges, by taking up the opportunity that the shift to renewables and clean energy will present at home,” he said.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese joins APEC leaders’ call for ‘predictable’ trade, backs Kevin Rudd as Australia’s ambassador to US