President Trump has turned the global trade on its head in a matter of weeks with his global tariff agenda.
Sure, the Albanese government can look dimly on what President Trump does and make statements that this is “not the act of a friend.” However, in reality the Albanese Government is getting a taste of its own medicine as this is exactly how his government has treated our middle eastern trading partners with the ban on live sheep exports.
Despite longstanding trading friendships, the Albanese Government has simply cast these to the side in the name of ideology.
Middle Eastern Governments have made countless representations explaining that our trading relationship with them is intrinsically linked to live sheep. They have repeatedly outlined the fact that the trade cannot be replaced by chilled and frozen meat, that it will cause job losses in their countries and imperil their food security – possibly irreparably damaging the relationship between our countries.
How has the Prime Minister responded? With indifference and ignorance and by saying we can sell them more processed meat! Essentially, that he doesn’t care.
When I was in the Middle East last year I met with several Australian diplomats. All discussions were informal and off the record. However, in every single meeting it was raised how poorly received the policy has been and that it was a very sensitive topic that is impacting Australia’s broader agenda in these countries.
I would hasten to add that these Middle East Markets are important markets for other agricultural products such as beef, lamb, dairy, horticulture and grains. Not to mention important ties around defence and Australia’s geopolitical strategy. I doubt these governments will be receptive to approaches from the Australian Government to diversify Australian trade given how they have been treated. It is confounding that during such a period of trade uncertainty that that the Prime Minister would not be doing everything in his power to keep our trade options open.
Prime Minister Albanese has said words to the effect that retaliation is not the way to go, and that Australian seeks to set an example of how free trade should be done. This is a position our industry supports.
Noting that our Middle Eastern friends have been good enough not to retaliate, perhaps the best example the Prime Minister can give is by undertaking the “act of a friend” and reversing the ban on live sheep. It’s not too late to do the right thing by some of our other longest standing international allies.
Mark Harvey-Sutton is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council.