Trump tariffs on Australia still on the cards despite PM phone call

Questions remain today about whether Australia has managed to secure an exemption from Donald Trump tariffs on steel and aluminium. 

The President and Anthony Albanese spoke yesterday on the phone.
 
However, a proclamation released by the US has called out Australia breaking its word on limiting aluminium exports to America. 

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What has happened so far with the Trump tariffs?

On Monday, we heard news that Trump was planning to slap a 25 per cent tax on all steel and aluminium imports, prompting our PM to seek an urgent call with him. 

Yesterday Albanese called a press conference to confirm we were being considered for an exemption. 

“I presented Australia’s case for an exemption,” Albanese said.

Trump also said in a press conference: “I told him that that’s something that we will give great consideration to.”

Trump also called Albo a “Very fine man.”

However, Trump since signed the executive order that would enact the tariffs on March 12 and said no countries would be eligible for a carve out. 

The White House called out Australia for disregarding a verbal commitment to limit our aluminium exports into the US. 

This promise was reportedly made by Malcolm Turnbull’s government during Trump’s first term under a similar tariffs policy but the then-PM has come out to deny giving that assurance. 

Trade Minister Don Farrell is heading to Washington to meet with his counterpart in the coming days to try to lock in this carve out. 

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