‘Pathway’: Huge Aussie call after Trump’s tariffs move
Donald Trump has sparked outrage after doubling the levy on Australia’s steel exports. But there still might be hope for an exemption ahead of his talks with Anthony Albanese.
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New Employment and Industrial Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth has maintained there is a “pathway” for Australia to obtain an exemption from Donald Trump’s upped tariffs on imported steel, with Anthony Albanese set to meet the US President in a the coming weeks.
Her comments come after Mr Trump blindsided world leaders be announcing he would be doubling the levees on imported steel to 50 per cent in order to “further secure the steel industry in the United States”.
This is in addition to the 25 per cent on aluminium tariffs, plus a blanket 10 per cent levee on Australian goods.
Speaking on Sky, Ms Rishworth said the government will “throw everything” at the negotiations, and said they were “unjustifiable moves” and not what you’d expect from a “friend and an ally”.
“We have, of course, continued to work through this and be in contact with those Americans in the administration to work through in a methodical and consistent way. And we’ll continue to put forward that these tariffs should be removed from Australian steel, and we’ll continue to do that and put forward our national industries.”
However she said she believed Australia would be able to secure an exemption.
“What we see is a pathway forward, which is to not apply these tariffs to Australian steel,” she said.
“I don’t need to remind you … that America imports a lot more source sends a lot more stuff to Australia than we send to America, but we have a very had, have always had a very close relationship with America, and we expect to continue to work through this issue and put forward our consistent position.”
The Prime Minister is also set to speak to Mr Trump for the first time after securing a second term of government, with both leaders set to attend the G7 in Canada from June 15 to 17.
AUSTRALIA BLASTS TRUMP’S DOUBLE STEEL TARIFFS
Australia has criticised Mr Trump’s call to double tariffs on imported steel to 50 per cent in a move that will deepen the global trade war and impact local metal exports.
Mr Trump announced his plan on Saturday at the US Steel Corporation’s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania plant before a jubilant mass of applauding workers.
The move would “even further secure the steel industry in the United States”, Mr Trump said.
“You’re going to stay an American company, you know that, right?
“If you don’t have steel, you don’t have a country. You don’t have a country, you can’t make a military. What are we going to do? Say, ‘Let’s go to China to get our steel from the army tanks’.”
The President made the visit to tout a deal in which Japan’s Nippon Steel invested $14 billion in the famous company rather than buying it outright — a long-held point of political contention.
“This is an incredible deal for American steel workers, and it includes vital protections to ensure that all steel workers will keep their jobs at all facilities in the United States will remain open and thriving,” Mr Trump said.
Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell earlier said the latest tariff hike was unjustified.
“Australia’s position has been consistent and clear. These tariffs are unjustified and not the act of a friend,” he said in a statement.
“They are an act of economic self harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade.
“We will continue to engage and advocate strongly for the removal of the tariffs.”
Coalition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan urged Mr Albanese to pressure Mr Trump on tariffs at the scheduled G7 forum in Canada in June.
“This is concerning for Australian jobs,” Mr Hogan said.
“The Coalition does not agree with this policy from the Trump Administration.
“The Albanese government needs to double its efforts to protect our steel industry and local jobs for our steel workers.
“This is why it is imperative that the Australian Prime Minister personally meets with President Trump, as he is expected to do on the sidelines of the G7 in Canada in a couple of weeks, to develop a personal rapport with the United States President and protect Australian industries.
“The Coalition want the government to succeed because that is in the national interest.”
Mr Trump had earlier claimed on his Truth Social account that China had “totally violated” a temporary truce with the US to lower tariff rates.
“At 25 per cent, they can sort of get over that fence. At 50 per cent, they can no longer get over the fence,” Mr Trump told US Steel employees at a rally in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.
“Pittsburgh will very soon be respected around the world as the Steel City again,” Mr Trump told the crowd.
“We don’t want America’s future to be built with shoddy steel from Shanghai, we want it built with the strength and the pride of Pittsburgh.”
Following Mr Trump’s announcement, US Defence Chief Pete Hegseth issued a warning that China was “credibly preparing” to use military force to up-end the balance of power in Asia, vowing the United States was “here to stay” in the Indo-Pacific region.
Mr Hegseth was speaking at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday when he issued the warning doubling down on the US pledge to increase its presence in the Indo-Pacific and outlining a range of new joint projects, including expanding access to military ship and plane repair, including in Australia.
“US allies in the Indo-Pacific can and should upgrade their own defences,” Mr Hegseth said.
“It has to be clear to all that Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific … There’s no reason to sugar coat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent.”
Mr Hegseth further warned the Chinese military was building the capabilities to invade Taiwan and “rehearsing for the real deal”.
Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan and held multiple large-scale exercises around the island, often described as preparations for a blockade or invasion.
The United States was “reorienting toward deterring aggression by communist China”, Mr Hegseth said, calling on US allies and partners in Asia to swiftly upgrade their defences in the face of mounting threats.
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Originally published as ‘Pathway’: Huge Aussie call after Trump’s tariffs move
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