Trump rules out tariff exemption for Australia

This morning, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Nine newspapers Trump had considered the possibility of an exemption before deciding against it.

“His tariff policies, what he envisions is reciprocity, fair trade practices, where American workers are put first and are no longer ripped off by foreign countries all over this world,” Leavitt told reporters shortly before confirming his position to Nine.

Australia recently recorded its first monthly trade surplus with the US, undermining a key argument for an exemption.

Trump spoke with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about a month ago regarding a possible exemption from Australia.

Labelling Albanese “a very fine man”, the US president promised to give “serious consideration” to a possible exemption.

Australia did secure a tariff exemption after months of diplomacy in 2018, and Trump’s style of government historically indicates he is open to reversing positions given sufficient incentive.

But heavy tariffs have been a significant feature of his second term, including on close trading partners Canada and Mexico.

And his key trade advisor Peter Navarro has been vocal in recent weeks on the subject, claiming Australia was waging a “frontal assault” on the aluminium market in the US.

The steel and aluminium tariffs come into effect this afternoon.