Trump’s decision to hit nation’s steel industry with US tariffs has nothing to do with Australia

Australia’s appeals to avoid Trump’s steel tariffs have sparked an inevitable blame game. But the critics forget that for Trump, it’s not about Australia at all, writes Vanessa Marsh.

Anyone surprised by Donald Trump’s single-minded charge toward implementing his tariff agenda has not been paying attention.

Much of his campaign was spent espousing the strength of his fiscal strategy, promising to deliver America as “the brightest economic future the world has ever seen”.

And within hours of his inauguration in January he set plans in motion for the sweeping rollout of tariffs on friends and foes alike as part of his wider vision aimed at overhauling the economy and boosting manufacturing and employment.

Trump 2.0 has also not been afraid to alienate once-close allies.

US President Donald Trump has introduced sweeping rollout of tariffs on friends and foes alike. Picture: Mandel Ngan / AFP

Fractures between the US and its northern neighbour Canada have become a chasm in recent days amid escalating retaliatory tariffs.

Trump today launched a furious spray after Ontario hit back with its own tariffs on electricity exports to the US, threatening that future renditions of Canada’s national anthem would be sung not for a country, but instead for a great state of America in further reference to his proposal to annex Canada and make it the 51st state.

He has infuriated China with the measures and alienated trading partner Mexico.

And who could forget last week’s excruciating Oval Office exchange in which he lambasted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – a formerly close friend and ally.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with world leaders in the wake of his showdown with US President Donald Trump. Picture: Nicolas Tucat / AFP

Tariffs are a core element of the Trump administration’s ‘America First’ narrative and therefore any concessions will come at a high price – even for “friends” such as Australia.

The revelation Australia’s appeals to be excluded from Trump’s steel tariffs has already sparked an inevitable blame game. Should Anthony Albanese have gone in person? Could Malcolm Turnbull’s comments critical of the President been better timed? Did the likes of Kevin Rudd and Jim Chalmers fail to adequately make their case?

But what that criticism fails to take into account is that for Trump, it’s not about Australia at all.

Former Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

As he’s said all along – his agenda is America first and America only.

He has been at pains to remind people that with 77.3 million votes, he received a mandate from Americans to implement his vision to ‘Make America Great Again’.

Part of that vision includes tariffs – whether for the perceived economic advantage, or for the significant political negotiating power it affords him.

And while he may yet come to the negotiating table – last time it took almost a year to carve out an exemption – it will not be without a significant political concession on Australia’s part.

After all, Trump is a businessman first and foremost.

Originally published as Trump’s decision to hit nation’s steel industry with US tariffs has nothing to do with Australia