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Jennifer Hewett

No guarantees for Trump’s unlikely tariff buddy

A relieved Anthony Albanese managed to persuade the president to at least consider exempting Australia from the 25 per cent tariffs on US steel and aluminium imports. Can that reprieve last?

Jennifer HewettColumnist

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Timing, timing, timing. Anthony Albanese’s scheduled phone call with Donald Trump happened to come just ahead of the president’s signing of executive orders to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all US steel and aluminium imports.

Even as the president insisted on no exceptions, he was happy to reiterate the line just agreed with Albanese – “a very fine man” – that an exemption for Australia was under consideration. Trump being Trump, he added his favourite adjective – under “great” consideration.

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Jennifer Hewett is the national affairs columnist. She writes a daily column on politics, business and the economy. Connect with Jennifer on Twitter. Email Jennifer at jennifer.hewett@afr.com

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/no-guarantees-for-trump-s-unlikely-new-tariff-buddy-20250211-p5lb70