Australia’s re-elected Labor government has announced it will strongly oppose the new 100 per cent US tariffs on foreign-made films, calling the move “unjustified” and harmful to international trade relations.

Amanda Rishworth, who served as Minister for Social Services in the previous parliament, told Nine Network on Tuesday that the Albanese government will present a united front against the US decision. “These are just unjustified tariffs,” Rishworth said, emphasizing that the entire government, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will advocate for their removal.

The tariff, announced on Monday by US President Donald Trump, has drawn global criticism. The Australian government has made clear its disapproval, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong stating that Australia will be voicing its strong opposition directly to Washington.

“We obviously will be pressing views about this to the US administration,” said Wong, who is expected to retain her foreign affairs portfolio in the new government.

In a separate interview with ABC radio, Wong highlighted the broader issue of trade barriers, stressing the importance of resuming free trade talks with the European Union (EU) as part of Australia’s trade diversification strategy.

“If we’re a trading nation, we don’t want to be part of trade barriers because it’s not good for us. It’s an act of economic self-harm,” she said.

Talks with the EU had stalled in 2023 over disagreements about agricultural export access. However, Labor pledged in April to reopen those negotiations if re-elected—a promise they now intend to follow through on.

According to News Corp Australia, Prime Minister Albanese is even considering scrapping Australia’s luxury car import tax from the EU to secure improved trade terms for Australian agricultural exporters.