A split between Australia and the US on key policies will be on display at an economic forum of world leaders, experts say, with Anthony Albanese deciding not to fly out to meet Donald Trump labelled a “bad move”.
The prime minister will attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brazil off the back of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima.
While pushing Australia as a major power in food security and a reliable global supplier of energy, Mr Albanese says the implications of the US president-elect’s victory forms a “backdrop” for both summits.
Mr Trump has suggested tariffs on imports between 10-20 per cent and up to 60 per cent on Chinese goods.
The prime minister has placed “free and fair trade” at the forefront of his discussions, and despite vowing to try to secure exemptions from tariffs for Australian products, he will not fly to the US to meet with Mr Trump.
In a growing rift from the US on Israel, Australia backed a United Nations resolution recognising Palestinians sovereignty over resources in the occupied Palestinian territories.
UNSW Professor Peter Swan questioned the impact on the relationship with Washington, with Mr Albanese being “so out of step” with the US on resolving the conflict in the Middle East and energy and climate policies.
“We’re further and further away from the US, just at the strategic time where when our ability to defend ourselves probably at the lowest point ever … so we’re choosing the worst possible time to be very offensive towards the US,” he told AAP.
Prof Swan said the uncertainty created by Mr Trump was part of his bargaining strategy, to dangle bad outcomes in front of his opponents in a bid to get a better deal.
He said it was a “very bad move” from the prime minister to not seek out a meeting at the earliest opportunity after having criticised him.
Economics Professor Richard Holden said with the election of Mr Trump, the G20 would be a bit of a “fizzer” with current US President Joe Biden a “lame duck”.
“These meetings are always a little bit of a talk fest but it seems likely to be even more so this time and there’s important things there,” he said.
“President-elect Trump’s shadow will be cast over the whole thing.”
