The Daily Populous Monday March 17th, 2025 morning edition
Authored by sbs.com.au and submitted by Acceptable-Ad-8895

The federal government remains in the dark on what the Trump administration wants for a tariff exemption, the trade minister says, as negotiations continue and Australia seeks to diversify trade relationships.

In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Don Farrell said he had spoken with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday.

The trade minister said it was not "a pessimistic conversation", but Lutnick had "gave no assurances about what might happen in the next round of negotiations".

Farrell said he has another talk scheduled with US trade representative Jamieson Greer on Tuesday.

"What we need to do is find out what it is that the Americans want in terms of the relationship between Australia and the United States, and then make President Trump an offer he can't refuse," Farrell told Sky News.

Australia was granted a tariff exemption during Trump's first term when Malcolm Turnbull was prime minister. But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said it took months for the concession to be granted.

The federal government had made an offer of guaranteed supply to critical minerals in a bit to spare Australia from steel and aluminium tariffs , but the US rejected it.

Resources Minister Madeleine King told The Guardian on Saturday she did not "see a world" in which the offer would be revised, but said negotiations would continue.

LISTEN TO INTERVIEW: How Trump’s trade tariffs are likely to impact Australian industry in 2025 SBS News 08/03/2025 10:29 Play

Greens leader Adam Bandt told the ABC's Insiders program on Sunday he wants Australia to move beyond its US relationship towards other countries impacted by tariffs.

"In terms of a lasting arrangement for the future, it has to be based on what's in Australia's interests, rather than hoping Donald Trump will ride to the rescue or somehow give special treatment," he said.

Farrell said Australia had spoken to other nations, such as South Korea, about expanding and diversifying trade relationships.

He also reiterated the federal government's position that, unlike some other countries, Australia would not hit the US with retaliatory tariffs.

monochromeorc on March 16th, 2025 at 22:22 UTC »

because we have an election coming up, and the conservative side have decided to roll over and declare trump president of australia, the conservative media are attacking the australian government for somehow not figuring out how to avoid the tarrifs despite there being no rational sense coming from the americans, no garuntees and no idea. I really hope the government hasnt been spooked into making stupid claims just to appease the unnappeasable conservative politicians/media

EyeOfTheTiger77 on March 16th, 2025 at 22:16 UTC »

Offer Trump anything and he will assume he could have gotten more and continue putting the screws to you. You gotta push back.

religionisanger on March 16th, 2025 at 22:00 UTC »

He should expect a kangaroos head in his bed tomorrow morning.