Despite predictions that President Trump's ideas would catch on in Australia and similarly transform its politics, the Commonwealth government remains a defender of an open economy.

This isn't only because Australia has benefited enormously from free trade. Australians are still supportive of it, too.

Opinion polls by the Australian Election Study and the Lowy Institute, analysed for The Australian Financial Review by their authors, revealed that support for free trade is strong nationally.

Backing for an open economy crosses income and education levels, and rural-urban divides.

Anti-immigration sentiment in Australia shares much in common with similar desires to restrict immigrant numbers in the US and across Europe.

Unlike the US and UK, the push against immigration in Australia has not been coupled with a break in the nation's free trade commitments.

The Coalition government has not had a Republican-style protectionist insurrection, and on the world stage represents a nation that understands the benefits of economic openness.

It makes perfect sense then that Treasurer Josh Frydenberg used a speech to the Australian National University on Tuesday to praise global economic bodies.

Australia's reflection on its free trade commitments has reaffirmed and heightened its advocacy for economic openness.

It's also brought an understanding that some of the issues leading to the US-China trade war reveal a need for reform, rather than a damaging return to protectionism.

Mr Frydenberg calls for two changes. One is a reinvigorated World Trade Organisation with better dispute settling mechanisms and a broader role dealing with the digital economy.

Another is change to the governance structures of the International Monetary Fund reflecting the greater role played by emerging economies.

"Globally we remain a strong advocate for a transparent and rules-based global economic system that has strong multilateral institutions," he said.

The Treasurer's remarks are a welcome change to the criticism Prime Minister Scott Morrison made of such bodies in warning of "negative globalism" last month.

Mr Morrison's words echoed a darkly nationalist speech to the UN days before by President Trump.

In failing to name the "negative" parts of globalism, Mr Morrison sent the wrong message about Australia's commitment to the system underpinning free trade.

As a middle power that has benefited from nearly three decades of uninterrupted economic growth powered partly by a more open economy, Australia's words on these matters have weight.

They influence nations that are wavering in or abandoning free trade policies.

Tit-for-tat tariffs and an unravelling of international bodies will bring on a world that leaves Australia poorer and less secure.

Australia can't afford to enable the retreat into nationalism and protectionism.

There's little room for the Prime Minister's ambivalence. Mr Frydenberg is setting the right example.