Federal Election 2025: Anthony Albanese defends measured approach to Trump tariffs

Anthony Albanese has defended his approach to US President Donald Trump, warning against “dialling things up to 11” in a veiled swipe at his own opponent, as the world grapples with whiplash from the latest developments in the tariff saga.

Overnight, Mr Trump announced a 90-day pause for countries hit by higher tariffs and authorised a lower rate of ten per cent - the same rate which the US has already imposed on Australia - during negotiations. The news led to the S&P/ASX 200 index closing up 4-5 per cent in a $116 billion market rebound.

But a trade war with China dramatically escalated as Washington lifted tariffs on goods from Beijing to 125 per cent, accusing the Asian powerhouse of a “lack of respect” after its retaliatory tariffs. China responded again on Thursday afternoon.

The latest developments do not change Australia’s own tariff situation, but the Prime Minister said the erratic near-daily changes emphasised “the need for a considered, calibrated, clear position when negotiating”.

“The US administration changes its position on a regular basis … We need to make sure that Australia is considered in the way that we go forward,” Mr Albanese said from Green Island, in the far north Queensland seat of Leichardt.

“You have to be an adult. You do not dial it up to 11 at every opportunity, which is what Peter Dutton’s plan is on everything, just to say the first thing that comes into your head.

“What you need to do in dealing with the United States, in dealing with other diplomatic relations as well is to be consistent and considered.”

He said Australia would “continue to advocate that Australia’s tariff rates should be zero”.

Mr Trump says more than 75 countries have contacted the US to begin negotiations and are “kissing (his) ass” because they’re “dying to make a deal”.

While Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has argued he could secure a deal “quickly” with Mr Trump, Mr Albanese has strongly indicated grovelling is not the approach he is taking – despite the fact that he has still not been able to secure a phone call with the US President.

The Prime Minister on Thursday would not confirm whether he had put in a request to speak to Mr Trump since calling the election, about a week before the tariffs were announced.

“We engage with the United States administration in a diplomatic way, not with a loudhailer,” he said.

His Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, had told ABC Radio on Thursday morning that the PM hadn’t put in a request to speak with Mr Trump since the tariffs were announced because he was focused on the election.

“We continue to advocate to the US through our system and through our representatives,” he told ABC Radio.

“Right now, the Prime Minister, as he should be, focused on the federal election and the conversation that he’s having and that we’re all having with the Australian people.”

The US President loomed large over day 13 of the election campaign, as Mr Albanese also rebuffed calls from Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian that Canberra should “join hands” with Beijing to work together to defend the multilateral trading system.

“The only way to stop the hegemonic and bullying behaviour of the US in harvesting the whole world is to strengthen solidarity and collaboration and to jointly resist,” the ambassador wrote in the Nine Newspapers.

“Under the new circumstances, China stands ready to join hands with Australia and the international community to jointly respond to the changes of the world, resolutely uphold international equity and justice, defend the multilateral trading system.”

Asked what he made of the invitation, Mr Albanese was keen to avoid getting caught in the middle.

“We will speak for ourselves. Australia’s position is that free and fair trade is a good thing,” he said, as he stressed Canberra’s relationship with Beijing was “an important one”.

Trade represents one in four Australian jobs, and China is, by a long distance, our major trading partner.

Mr Marles had earlier said Australia was “not about to make common cause with China”.

Mr Dutton also talked up the importance of having a “strong trading relationship with China” when asked about the call to “join hands”.

Asked if he was worried the Trump administration’s “chaos” could be strengthening China’s hand, Mr Dutton said Australia needed assurances its leader was up to the task.

“What I think Australians worry about is the prime minister up to the task of dealing with this issue and many others that will eventuate over the coming years? No-one can predict what will happen over the next three years, let alone the next 30,” he said.

Asked for assurances he wouldn’t be “kissing (Mr Trump’s) backside” if he won the election and travelled to Washington within 60 days – as he has pledged to do – Mr Dutton said his job would be to “stan dup for our country”.

“I will deal with whatever comes at our country and make the right and tough decisions to keep us safe and to make sure we’re a strong economy where Australians can prosper,” he said.

The issue of trade has also become a sticking point with reports suggesting that Labor’s failure to consult with the Coalition on the reopening of discussions on trade with the European Union overnight could put the government in danger of breaching the caretaker provisions of the election campaign.

It comes after The Nightly revealed Trade Minister Don Farrell reopened talks with the EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security on working towards a free trade agreement.

It has has since been reported that Senator Farrell’s comments that the government was keen to “find a path that would be good for Australia and the EU”, could be in breach of article six of the caretaker provisions of campaigns outlining that “the Government avoids entering major commitments ... in the context of international negotiations”.

While the provisions state that a “Government could seek the Opposition’s agreement to negotiating positions”, an Opposition spokesperson confirmed to The Australian that it had not been consulted or contacted by the Senator.