Federal election 2025 LIVE updates: Chalmers accuses ‘DOGE-y Dutton’ of copying Trump; 10 per cent tariff warning issued to Australian agricultural businesses
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the government will continue to back Australia’s interests as US President Donald Trump’s tariffs are set to begin.
Speaking on ABC Radio National, Wong said it is unlikely tariffs on steel and aluminium will get an exemption.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong in the Senate last month.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“I think all of us are realistic. As the prime minister made it clear yesterday, we are not willing to trade away the things that make Australia the best country in the world, like our healthcare system. We don’t want the Americanisation of our healthcare system. We won’t be working on biosecurity laws, and we won’t be trading away our PBS [Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme],” she said.
“We have always been clear about our interests and our approach, and we have always been clear about the lines that we know we have to hold, and we certainly are going to continue to protect our PBS and our biosecurity laws.”
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has also said that he is “not going to compromise in relation to issues of national significance to us”.
The PBS, which provides access to medication at lower prices, affects US pharmaceutical companies’ profits. It has been in the Trump administration’s firing line, along with Australia’s biosecurity regime, which affects beef, pork and poultry imports from the US.
Farmers have also been told to expect tariffs of 10 per cent or more on beef and other products after talks with the Trump administration reached an impasse.
