Earlier, Trade Minister Simon Crean indicated the government was in no hurry to rush its response to a Productivity Commission report that recommended the phasing out, over three years, of century-old protection laws.
But Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard indicated Labor's national conference might consider a resolution favouring a book market, free from trade restrictions.
A balance needed to be struck between cultural and literary heritage and making sure consumers had access to books at cheap prices, she said.
"The resolution, obviously, will be looking at those concerns,'' Ms Gillard said.
Removing barriers which give Australian book companies a head start over international competitors to publish titles is vehemently opposed by local publishers and authors. Supporters of the commission's recommendation say consumers are being overcharged $200 million a year for their books, arguing removing restrictions on books printed overseas will boost competition and cut prices.
Print unions say that will cost 500 jobs.
Trade Minister Simon Crean says the issue is "very complex'' and people on both sides of the argument had strong views.
"We're not going to be rushed into this,'' he told ABC Television when asked whether the government would adopt the commission's recommendations.
But Ms Gillard hinted a decision might not be far away as Labor's national conference is asked to make a resolution.
"I understand that there will be one dealt with at some point during the course of conference,'' she said, before going onto argue the case for free trade.
"This is a government that says and focuses on free trade because we're a great trading nation.''
There was scope within free-trade rules to "deal'' with a nation's cultural content.
Ms Gillard said she had not seen the text of the resolution.
Music gear mecca’s siren song wanesDollar flat in directionless trade
