This Month
Lower tariff for Australia in next Trump plan
Australia faces a potential tariff of between 2 per cent and 8 per cent on the $30 billion of exports sold to the United States, such as beef and pharmaceuticals.
Reality bites critical-minerals hopes
Australia’s ambition of processing critical minerals is still mostly a dream, and one that won’t persuade Donald Trump to withhold tariffs on our exports.
Australia turns to McDonald’s diplomacy in Trump trade war
The industry and federal government are alarmed that beef and lamb exports and pharmaceuticals could be next in Trump’s firing line as early as April 2.
PM uses critical minerals as bargaining chip in Trump tariff war
Australia is using its supply of critical minerals as leverage with the Trump Administration, in a bid to avoid a second wave of tariffs.
The government spent $500m on trade, but business sees no benefit
After four years of the government trying to streamline international trade, exporters say they are yet to see cost and time savings.
February
Government bracing for tariff rejection by Trump
The Albanese government has started playing down the prospects of securing tariff exemption for the Trump administration.
Rudd, Chalmers, Farrell lock in US talks in race for tariff carve-out
The Albanese government is mounting a full court press in Washington to spare Australian exports from tariffs before the election is called.
Donations deal strikes at the heart of Climate 200’s business model
Reforms to political donations laws will make it harder for campaign groups to bankroll candidates, but whether the changes can stop the move away from the major parties is yet to be seen.
US tariff threat a good reason to diversify markets, says Farrell
The imposition of punitive trade restrictions by China has taught Australian exporters to diversify their markets, the trade minister says.
‘I call BS’: Zali Steggall confronts minister in blow-up over donations laws
Labor faces tough negotiations with teal crossbenchers in the event of a hung parliament, after doing a deal with the Coalition on electoral reforms.
Chasing electoral reform deal, Labor offers to increase donation caps
As all sides count down to the start of the election campaign, a possible vote on changes proposed by the government has been scheduled for Thursday.
Trump lumps allies in with enemies in tariff chaos
US tariffs on steel and aluminium look likely to embroil Australia. What’s an under-pressure Anthony Albanese to do when a president doesn’t care about impact on allies?
How fear of China is hurting the trans-Pacific free trade pact
Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to Australia is urging the Albanese government to end an impasse over his country’s bid to join the CPTPP.
December 2024
End of sanctions as China lifts bans on beef
China has removed sanctions from two Australian abattoirs, bringing to an end an avalanche of tariffs and de facto bans that began four years ago.
How Australia plans to work around Donald Trump’s trade wars
Trade Minister Don Farrell wants to stitch together coalitions of like-minded countries, including bringing China into the fold, to keep free trade alive.
November 2024
Dealing under way to bring Bali Nine back to Australia
But the Australians convicted in Indonesia of smuggling heroin would have to serve their sentences at home, the government says.
Campaign finance laws could reduce not increase political competition
The community independents are right that this legislation is too important to be rushed through parliament in the final two sitting weeks.
Palmer set to challenge Albanese donation plans in court
Labor designed its plan for new political donations rules to withstand a constitutional challenge, but the billionaire miner says it is designed to rig elections.
Sohn’s stock picks; Trump’s ‘frightening’ choice; Donation caps row
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Election donation rules target Palmer and Climate 200
New rules due to come into force in 2026 will cap spending in federal elections and dramatically speed up public disclosure rules.