Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull continues to trumpet the benefits of free trade even as the US pulls its support for the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership pact.
The White House issued a statement not long after President Donald Trump's inauguration at the weekend stating the US would not participate in the deal.
While Labor argues it's a waste of time to push ahead with ratification, Mr Turnbull insists his government won't be discouraged.
"We need trade, trade is driving jobs," he told Triple M radio on Monday, acknowledging there was a dynamic environment globally.
"We're looking at every opportunity to expand the markets for Australian exports."
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Trade Minister Steve Ciobo declined to provide a running commentary on President Trump's statements.
"Our nation's interests are best served by continuing to open up markets," he told ABC Radio.
Mr Ciobo said the gains made under the TPP warranted hanging on.
"The best trade deals are deals that produce win-win outcomes, and that's what we all recognised has been achieved under the TPP."
If there had to be small changes and the US was not included, "well so be it".
Mr Ciobo defended the government's lack of modelling of the benefits of the TPP without US participation.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said if America just traded with itself it would be a vastly poorer place.
"If you believe in restrictive trade why stop there? Why not just have Idaho just trading with Idaho? And Tennessee trading with Tennessee?" he said.
"It ultimately doesn't work."
Labor's trade spokesman Jason Clare said the government had made an economic mess of the pact.
It needed to crunch the numbers on whether a TPP without the US would still be worth it.
"If the government wants to implement Plan B, we need to see independent economic evidence, another parliamentary inquiry and new legislation," Mr Clare said in a statement.
