‘Not good enough’: Anthony Albanese accused of stalling over Trump tariffs

The Albanese Government says it is advocating “very forcefully” for an exemption to the Trump administration’s tariffs, but is yet to make a deal just days before they begin.

The Albanese Government says it is advocating “very forcefully” for an exemption to the Trump administration’s steel and aluminium tariffs, but is yet to make a deal just days before they begin.

The stalemate has attracted criticism from the Opposition which accused the Prime Minister of failing to prioritise the issue and warned the impact of the tariffs would be felt swiftly.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the case had been made to the US about why it “makes sense” to exclude Australia from the hefty 25 per cent tariffs.

US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House. Picture: Getty Images

“Our two‑way trade with the United States is trade which is very much in the United States’ favour,” he told Sky News.

“It makes sense that all of this is tariff free. And indeed, to the extent that we do provide exports to the United States, that’s supporting US jobs.

“Now that’s an argument that we’ve been making with the US administration.”

Australia’s Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in recent days to discuss a carve out for Australia, however neither have commented on the outcome of the meeting.

Mr Lutnick, who travelled with President Donald Trump to his Mar-a-Lago estate at the weekend after the meeting with Mr Rudd, has since reiterated plans for the tariffs to start this week.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Coalition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan accused the government of failing to prioritise the issue.

“The only member of the Quad and the only member of AUKUS who hasn’t met and gone over to see the new President is Albanese and I think it shows from him a lack of priority to the relationship,” Mr Hogan said.

“It’s an important economic relationship, there’s an important tariff issue, they’re an important national security partner.

“And the fact that he has not prioritised a meeting and physical catch up with him (Mr Trump) I think is not good enough.”

Mr Hogan said he believed Australia had a better case for an exemption now than it did when it successfully reached a deal in 2018.

“I just don’t get a sense of urgency from either the Prime Minister or the Trade Minister on this and it’s quite disappointing for the jobs and the industry,” he said.

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent at the White House. Picture: AFP

“For the thousands of jobs that are associated with the steel and aluminium industries in Australia, that lack of priority from both of them is not good enough.”

Australia exports up to a billion dollars worth of steel and aluminium to the US each year.

“I think there’s a stronger case for an exemption now than there was when we were in government,” Mr Hogan said.

“If they come into effect we’ll see ramifications and impact very quickly.”

NEW BLOW TO AUSTRALIA’S HOPE OF AVOIDING TARIFFS

Australia’s bid to avoid hefty trade tariffs from the US was dealt a fresh blow after Mr Lutnick blasted countries “living and breathing” off the US.

His comments came the same day he met with Mr Rudd to discuss a tariff exemption.

Spokespeople for Mr Rudd and Mr Lutnick did not comment on the outcome of the meeting.

However Mr Lutnick appeared on Fox News on Friday local time (Saturday AEDT) where he championed the administration’s tariff plans.

“We are going to teach everybody in America that the people who live and breathe off our country, all these foreign companies and these foreign countries who just live off our economy, they’re going to start to pay,” he said.

Last month Mr Trump agreed to reconsider moves to place a 25 per cent tariff on Australian steel and aluminium imports during a phone call with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

But days before the tariffs are due to be implemented on March 12, a deal has not yet been struck.

Australia’s Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd. Picture: Supplied

Australia exported more than $700m of steel and aluminium in 2024.

Mr Trump last week implemented 25 per cent trade tariffs on Canada and Mexico but in the days following, made exemptions for imports that complied with United States-Canada-Mexico Agreement, and further concessions for three major automakers.

US President Donald Trump waves as he makes his way to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Picture: AFP

Asked about the uncertainty caused by the introduction and subsequent pauses and exemptions on tariffs, Mr Lutnick on Friday said reciprocal tariffs were coming on April 2 that in effect meant “how you treat us is how we will treat you”.

But he pointed to the pauses placed on Canadian and Mexican tariffs as a sign Mr Trump was willing to negotiate.

“The President listens, he sort of met them in the middle he met Canada and he met Mexico in the middle but let me tell you something if they don’t break fentanyl, then this tariff continues,” he said.

He later shared a clip of the video on X, reiterating his comments.

“All of these foreign companies and these foreign countries, who just live and breathe off our economy, they are going to start to pay,” Mr Lutnick wrote.

“Tariffs are going to save Americans from being poisoned by fentanyl, cut our deficit, and bring our manufacturing jobs back where they belong.”

Originally published as ‘Not good enough’: Anthony Albanese accused of stalling over Trump tariffs