Bono was immediately quizzed on his intentions to meet Mr Howard when the singer and his band mates arrived in Australia this week.
He said he would meet Mr Howard, but only if the prime minister was serious about a global aid coalition trying to convince nations to contribute 0.7 per cent of their gross domestic product to foreign aid.
"I don't accept preconditions from anybody," Mr Howard told reporters.
"I don't commit in advance to businessmen in this country and I certainly don't do it to - much in all as he's high grade - Irish entertainers."
U2 played the first show of its Australian tour in Brisbane last night after postponing its March tour due to the illness of a family member of one of the band members.
A meeting between Bono and Mr Howard was talked about when the band was in Australia in March, but it never eventuated.