Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have attempted to persuade voters they would be best to deal with Donald Trump as a decision on US tariffs loom.
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On the eve of more US tariff announcements, President Donald Trump's office has released an annual report that highlighted various trade barriers imposed by Australia on American goods such as beef, pork, chicken, apples and pears aimed at preventing pests and viruses.
The report pointed to issues over Australia's treatment of pharmaceutical patents and its news bargaining code, which requires tech platforms to pay media organisations for their content.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said discussions with the US were ongoing, but these three issues were off the table.
"Australia is not negotiating over the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, we're not negotiating over the news bargaining code, we won't undermine our biosecurity," he told reporters in Adelaide on Tuesday.
"The idea that we would weaken biosecurity laws is really like - as my mum would say - cutting off your nose to spite your face."
The US president's "Liberation Day" tariffs will be announced on Wednesday and are expected to wreak havoc on a litany of American trade partners.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton offered bipartisanship with the prime minister in ruling out biosecurity changes for tariff exemptions.
However, he argued a coalition government would be best placed to deal with the Trump White House, despite no country winning a reprieve from tariffs.
"(The prime minister) has not been able to stand up against people who are trying to do a deal that is not in our country's best interest. I have the strength of leadership and experience to be able to stand up to the President of the United States," he told reporters in Melbourne.
"I will always take the best interest of our country as the objective as prime minister, and I think I've demonstrated that."
As the election campaign continues, the Reserve Bank's Tuesday rates decision was set to feature on the domestic front.
It's the only time the central bank will make an interest rate decision during the election campaign, the first since it cut for the first time in almost five years in February.
But with many economists believing the central bank will hold interest rates, the outcome is not expected to significantly impact the campaign.
The coalition has pledged to lower the serviceability buffer, an increased interest rate banks apply to new loan applications to check whether buyers can repay a mortgage, to lower the barrier to enter the housing market.
Party leaders will o square off for the first debate of the election campaign on April 8.
The debate in western Sydney will see Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton come face-to-face in front of undecided voters in a people's forum.
Australian Associated Press
