Q. Among the Australian business people who have made it in the US, what do you think sets them apart from those who have been less successful? What sets apart the Australians here in the US is their resilience, ingenuity and commitment to their workers, their customers and their communities. I’ve seen this from very small local businesses to those with national and international reach. I was so impressed with the number of Australian businesses that held on during the pandemic and adapted, were able to survive, and now are thriving. I take every opportunity when talking to American counterparts to remind them that Australian businesses based in the US have created more than 150,000 well- paying jobs. While no doubt the FTA has made this easier in some ways, what really sets Australians apart in the US is their willingness to take risks, their capacity for innovation and their determination to look forward and be optimistic. Australia is a formidable agent of change and is highly regarded on the global innovation stage, but we have the ongoing challenge in the US of needing to persistently demonstrate the capacity and innovation that Australia can bring to the table. We have a lot to build on and I’m really excited about the future possibilities in innovation and trade.
Q. The US is taking steps to re-engage in the region, how is Australia working with the US to support this? For Australia, a strong US presence in the Indo-Pacific is indispensable to peace and prosperity and a stable equilibrium, so I really welcome President Biden’s leadership in taking steps to promote US trade and economic
Q. The Australia-US alliance is enduring and multifaceted. Climate impact is an example of an issue that may further broaden our two countries’ relationship. What are your thoughts about the future of the alliance? I’m very optimistic about the future of the alliance. On the defence and security side, our relationship is getting closer and closer. AUKUS will further cement that relationship in terms of capability and our capacity to work together and to integrate our industrial bases. More broadly, climate is emerging as an area for more high-level cooperation with the US. Last year we entered into a net zero partnership with the US, and Prime Minister Albanese made it clear in his first meeting with President Biden that he wanted to make climate the third pillar of the alliance. To this end we worked with our agencies in Canberra to develop an agenda for a climate leaders’ statement issued on 25 May 2023. We are demonstrating our credibility in this area by actions we have taken in relation to a legislative emissions reduction target of 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050, complemented by concrete measures to reduce emissions. This all comes at a time when the US has made its largest ever commitment to climate action through the Inflation Reduction Act, so we’re confident that the Australia-US alliance affords both our nations an opportunity to show global leadership in addressing the climate crisis.
engagement in the region. The failure of the TPP to get
support at the last minute in the US was interpreted in the region as the US withdrawing from trade and economic engagement, even though this engagement is central to its capacity to contribute to peace, prosperity and stability in the region. President Biden has convened several summits with Pacific Island leaders and with Southeast Asian leaders, which have resulted in significant initiatives which will have ongoing trade and investment benefits to the region. He has also promulgated an Indo- Pacific Economic Framework, which will cover trade, supply chains, decarbonisation of infrastructure, and tax and governance issues. That framework provides a flexible way for the US to engage with different countries in the region, particularly Southeast Asia, on the issues that matter to them the most and will make a long-term contribution to their economic growth and development.
The Australia-United States Joint Statement, 20 May 2023 can be found at: pm.gov.au/media/australia-united-states-climate-critical-minerals-and-clean-energy-transformation-compact
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Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
business envoy
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