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| Donald Trump says he ‘will be talking’ to Australia’s prime minister about tariffs | Donald Trump says he ‘will be talking’ to Australia’s prime minister about tariffs |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US president indicated he was aware Anthony Albanese has been pushing for an exemption to trade barriers | US president indicated he was aware Anthony Albanese has been pushing for an exemption to trade barriers |
| Donald Trump says he will speak to the Australian prime minister about trade, telling reporters he knows the Australian government has been trying to contact him. | Donald Trump says he will speak to the Australian prime minister about trade, telling reporters he knows the Australian government has been trying to contact him. |
| Australia goes to a federal election on Saturday and while the incumbent, Anthony Albanese, is favoured to win, Trump could be dealing with an alternative prime minister after the weekend. | Australia goes to a federal election on Saturday and while the incumbent, Anthony Albanese, is favoured to win, Trump could be dealing with an alternative prime minister after the weekend. |
| Taking questions as he left the White House for a rally marking 100 days back in office, Trump was asked by Australian reporters from Nine newspapers and television: “The Australian prime minister is having an election this weekend. Will you speak to him about trade?” | Taking questions as he left the White House for a rally marking 100 days back in office, Trump was asked by Australian reporters from Nine newspapers and television: “The Australian prime minister is having an election this weekend. Will you speak to him about trade?” |
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| Trump replied: “They are calling and I will be talking to him, yes.” | Trump replied: “They are calling and I will be talking to him, yes.” |
| There was no indication when the conversation would take place. | There was no indication when the conversation would take place. |
| Albanese told ABC radio Wednesday morning Trump’s remarks were “a light-hearted throw-away comment” and that he expected to speak with the president after the Australian election, should he win. | |
| “I assure you I’m not staying up at night trying to ring anyone at the moment, I’m in an election campaign,” Albanese said. | |
| “I’m sure if we are successful [in the election], we will have a discussion after Saturday. We have a relationship, we’ve already had a couple of phone calls.” | |
| The Australian government has been seeking to negotiate with the Trump administration over America’s controversial tariffs regime, which includes a minimum 10% tariff on almost all imports from Australia and 25% tariffs on specific items, including steel and aluminium. | The Australian government has been seeking to negotiate with the Trump administration over America’s controversial tariffs regime, which includes a minimum 10% tariff on almost all imports from Australia and 25% tariffs on specific items, including steel and aluminium. |
| Trump’s tariff regime has been an election issue in Australia, though not a pre-eminent one, and Albanese has fielded criticism during the campaign for not making personal contact with the president to argue for exemptions. | Trump’s tariff regime has been an election issue in Australia, though not a pre-eminent one, and Albanese has fielded criticism during the campaign for not making personal contact with the president to argue for exemptions. |
| The opposition argued that Australia’s position as a security ally that consistently runs a trade deficit with the US should have helped Albanese secure special consideration, as Australia did in Trump’s first term. | The opposition argued that Australia’s position as a security ally that consistently runs a trade deficit with the US should have helped Albanese secure special consideration, as Australia did in Trump’s first term. |
| Albanese was under pressure for failing to secure a call with Trump to negotiate, and during an election debate the prime minister said he was not even sure if the president has a mobile phone. | Albanese was under pressure for failing to secure a call with Trump to negotiate, and during an election debate the prime minister said he was not even sure if the president has a mobile phone. |
| But, in the initial tariff announcement, Australia did secure the lowest tariff rate – 10% – imposed on all countries without a higher rate. | But, in the initial tariff announcement, Australia did secure the lowest tariff rate – 10% – imposed on all countries without a higher rate. |
| Albanese has consistently described Trump’s tariff regime as “an act of economic self-harm” and damaging to the US relationship with Australia. | Albanese has consistently described Trump’s tariff regime as “an act of economic self-harm” and damaging to the US relationship with Australia. |
| “The administration’s tariffs have no basis in logic and they go against the basis of our two nations’ partnership. This is not the act of a friend,” he said when they were imposed. | “The administration’s tariffs have no basis in logic and they go against the basis of our two nations’ partnership. This is not the act of a friend,” he said when they were imposed. |
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| Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters | Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what’s happening and why it matters |
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| The Australian treasurer, Jim Chalmers, told ABC radio on Wednesday morning the government had been “engaging” at all levels with the US administration. | |
| “That engagement has been ongoing,” he said. “Prime Minister Albanese has already had a couple of conversations with President Trump in recent months. We flagged an interest in more discussions and I think what President Trump said today just reflects that. | “That engagement has been ongoing,” he said. “Prime Minister Albanese has already had a couple of conversations with President Trump in recent months. We flagged an interest in more discussions and I think what President Trump said today just reflects that. |
| “We’re speaking up for and standing up for our national economic interest.” | “We’re speaking up for and standing up for our national economic interest.” |
| Most of the US tariff regime has been put on pause. A 90-day reprieve on the imposition of tariffs above the 10% baseline is due to expire in July. | Most of the US tariff regime has been put on pause. A 90-day reprieve on the imposition of tariffs above the 10% baseline is due to expire in July. |
| China, the main target of the tariff regime, is the exception: 125% tariffs on Chinese goods, with carve-outs for Chinese-made smartphones, computers and semiconductors, are in place. They are in addition to a 20% tariff related to the US fentanyl crisis. | China, the main target of the tariff regime, is the exception: 125% tariffs on Chinese goods, with carve-outs for Chinese-made smartphones, computers and semiconductors, are in place. They are in addition to a 20% tariff related to the US fentanyl crisis. |
| China has responded with 125% tariffs on US-made goods. | China has responded with 125% tariffs on US-made goods. |
| The US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, told business network CNBC on Tuesday, US time, that a compromise on tariffs had been struck with one country – a parliamentary democracy – though he would not say which one. | The US commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, told business network CNBC on Tuesday, US time, that a compromise on tariffs had been struck with one country – a parliamentary democracy – though he would not say which one. |
| “I have a deal done,” Lutnick said. “But I need to wait for their prime minister and their parliament to give its approval, which I expect shortly.” | “I have a deal done,” Lutnick said. “But I need to wait for their prime minister and their parliament to give its approval, which I expect shortly.” |