EDITORIAL: Donald Trump’s tariff move a betrayal of century-old alliance with Australia
It’s no way to treat a mate.
Not only has Donald Trump taken the outrageous step of slapping Australian steel and aluminium imports into the US with nonsensical and unprovoked 25 per cent tariffs, now he’s dodging our calls too.
Following criticism from the Coalition that he had not done enough to convince the Americans to grant us an exemption from the tariffs, Anthony Albanese revealed he was also being ghosted by the President. Requests from Australia for a phone call between the two leaders to discuss the matter have so far gone ignored.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It’s a brutal betrayal of a century-old alliance which has see Australian troops fight shoulder to shoulder with Americans in every major conflict since the Battle of Hamel in WWI.
Perhaps it shouldn’t come as a shock, given Mr Trump’s recent disregard for America’s longest and most fruitful friendships. There was his relentless trolling of Canada, his decision to level further import levies against that nation and Mexico and of course his loathsome attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Still, it stings.
Australia and the US have long enjoyed strong, mutually beneficial relations.
That appears to be over.
Mr Trump isn’t interested in mutual benefits. His view of the world is purely transactional.
We can expect no more favours, no further special treatment in recognition of our shared history and values.
It now appears that diplomatic efforts to secure a carve-out were doomed from the start. No other nation has escaped their application.
Still, Australia has no choice but to continue to try to convince Mr Trump of their folly, even after they come into effect.
The immediate impact of the tariffs will be limited. In 2023, the combined value of Australian aluminium and steel exports to the United States was less than $1 billion. It’s small bikkies when measured against Australia’s total export output. Australian aluminium makes up about 1 per cent of Australia’s total exports, with steel less than half that.
It’s what comes next in Mr Trump’s trade war on everything that is the bigger worry.
Australia’s exposure to the Chinese economy means we risk being collateral damage should Mr Trump ramp up levies on Chinese goods into the US.
And then there’s the risk of further direct tariffs.
Mr Trump has already made known his intention to impose yet more tariffs on food products sent to the US. That would be devastating for Australian agricultural industries, which are still recovering from the recently lifted Chinese freeze.
So far, Australia’s response to Mr Trump’s tariff insult has been muted.
Mr Albanese called it “unfriendly”.
You get the feeling he had some other words for it in his mind.
His restraint — and the fact he has so far declined to impose retaliatory tariffs — indicates he is playing the long game, hoping he gets another chance to plead Australia’s case.
If he gets one, he’ll need to switch up his argument. Talk of history, friendship and mutual benefits mean nothing to the self-interested Mr Trump.
It’s all about what our country can do for him.
