Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister, Australia

Since 2022, Anthony Albanese has been the 31st Prime Minister of Australia. Being a member of the Australian Labor Party, his work experience includes economics and policy. Before becoming Prime Minister, Albanese was a Member of Parliament since 1996 and also held different ministerial posts. His effort as a leader is to advance progressive policies, promote social fairness, and boost bilateral relationships.

In 2025, President Trump caused a global stir by increasing tariffs on steel and aluminum imported from Australia which Prime Minister Albanese strongly disagreed with. He stated that calling the tariffs “totally unwarranted,” the decision seemed to go against decades-old trust and economic links between the U.S. and Australia. Instead of retaliating with tariffs which would hurt the Australian people and the economy, the Albanese chose a more considered way to protect the national interests. A five-point plan was announced by him to protect important sectors and build resilience. Among these steps was touching up the laws on anti-dumping to stop cheaper imports, providing $50 million for support to sectors hurt by U.S. tariffs, creating a $1 billion zero-interest loan program for exporters, and changing policies for government procurement to lift local products over foreign ones.

In addition, efforts were made to educate people about shopping locally for Australian goods, to strengthen the sense of community, and to ensure the country relied more on its resources. Albanese further stated that Australia is faithful to the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement and that U.S. duties break the terms of the agreement. He assured that Australia would defend its legal position peacefully by using diplomacy. Despite the challenges, Albanese’s actions display an approach that relies on practical economics, diplomacy, and steadfast commitment to equality and working together internationally.