Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor on free trade push with Canada and United Kingdom

Coalition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor says Australia needs to work with allies to de-escalate the US-China trade war.

Stronger links with London and Ottawa are crucial to de-escalating the US-China trade war, Coalition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor says.

Addressing the Rural Press Club of Victoria in Geelong, the Liberal frontbencher said if elected in a fortnight, a Dutton Government would forge stronger ties with the British and Canadian governments to curb the rising protectionist moves from the Trump administration.

Liberal frontbencher Angus Taylor in Geelong. Picture: Alison Wynd

Mr Taylor, who represents the NSW regional seat of Hume, said beef farmers and other primary producers in his rural constituency were concerned by the direct impact of the US tariffs, as well as the knock-on effect on the Chinese economy.

“We’re not going to retaliate with tariffs. I think a tariff war is the worst possible way to try to get open trade,” the Liberal MP said.

“We’ve seen retaliation particularly between the US and China, which should worry us – because that will impact global growth.

“I think the better way is to get deep inside the US administration. There’s much we agree with them on (but) we need to be clear with them where we disagree with them and we disagree with them on this.

“The market most impacted by these tariffs are beef exports. How impacted that will be is open to debate, but we are a big exporter of beef to the US.”

Angus Taylor at the Rural Press Club of Victoria. Picture: Alison Wynd

Mr Taylor confirmed recent conversations with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, freshly-appointed leader of Canada’s centre-left party, facing re-election against the centre-right Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre only days before Australia’s general election.

“We’re a country that’s always fought for open markets,” he said.

“It’s incredibly important we work with our allies on this. I’ve been in touch with the new Canadian Prime Minister, he’s not from my side of politics, I know him well from the past (as Bank of England governor).

“We’ve got to work with Canada, work with the UK and others. Regional Australia is built on the back of open markets, so getting access must be a top priority.”

Mr Taylor was in Geelong to campaign alongside Corangamite Liberal candidate Darcy Dunstan, who is running against Labor MP Libby Coker in the once-marginal electorate encompassing Geelong’s southern suburbs and the Bellarine Peninsula.

Mr Taylor said the Coalition “could still win Corangamite” despite Labor’s sizeable 7.8 per cent margin.

“Absolutely I think we can win it. We’ve got a strong candidate in Darcy Dunstan — this is going to be a close result here,” he said.