Don Farrell won’t travel to Washington for talks on Donald Trump’s trade war despite tariff uncertainty

Trade Minister Don Farrell has ruled out an eleventh-hour trip to Washington DC after Kevin Rudd failed to secure an Australian carve-out from Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs.

Trade Minister Don Farrell with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Trade Minister Don Farrell has ruled out an eleventh-hour trip to Washington DC after Kevin Rudd failed to secure an Australian carve-out from Donald Trump’s 25 per cent steel and aluminium tariffs with just days to go until the duties are slapped on exporters to the US.

Senator Farrell said Dr Rudd had been unable to achieve a breakthrough in a Saturday morning meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, though it remained unclear whether Australian companies would be hit when the details of the tariffs plan were unveiled on Thursday AEDT.

“They’re continuing to engage in discussions. Hopefully we get a satisfactory outcome,” he said.

Senator Farrell said while Australian officials would continue to press the nation’s case, he was not planning a last-ditch trip to the US to try and sway the outcome.

“I certainly won’t be going in the next three days,” Senator Farrell told The Australian.

“I’m watching intently what’s going to happen over the next three days and then we’ll make some decisions.”

Anthony Albanese has also indicated he will not travel to the US ahead of the election to try and seek an exemption from the tariffs, saying his focus ahead of the March 25 budget would be the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick looks on as President Donald Trump speaks at the White House. Picture: Roberto Schmidt / AFP

As the Coalition prepares to seize on any failure by the government to secure a tariff carve-out, Senator Farrell warned Labor was ready to hit back.

“They were the group that you know, left us with the $20 billion worth of trade impediments with China, the last of which we managed to remove just before Christmas,” he said.

“Remember this – from the time that Trump originally announced the tariffs on steel and aluminium the last time, it was nine months before we got a formal exemption,” he said.

“And it took us three years to get everything back into China.

“These are not easy discussions. Countries are making decisions based on what they think is in their national interest. What we’ve got to do is make decisions that are based on our national interests. And our national interest right now is ensuring those tariffs don’t get applied. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Ruby O’Driscoll and Gill Smillie at BlueScope Steel manufacturing plant in Port Kembla. Picture: Nikki Short

Mr Trump said he would give “great consideration” to a potential exemption for Australia from his looming steel and aluminium tariffs.

But senior US officials including the President’s trade adviser Peter Navarro have accused Australia of dumping subsidised steel and aluminium on the US market.

Senator Farrell said no one could say for sure which way the tariff decision would go.

“Anybody who tells you they know what’s going on is pulling your leg,” he said.

“These are not ordinary times. They’re not ordinary negotiations. And all Australia can do is put our best foot forward, propose no tariffs, and keep pushing for that until we get the result we want.”

Senator Farrell had said he would travel to the US for talks with Mr Lutnick after his counterpart’s appointment was confirmed by the Senate, which happened about three weeks ago.

But the planned trip was sidelined by Senate estimates hearings in the last week of February, a US trip by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, and preparations for a now-deferred April election.