Factual. Independent. Impartial.
Support AAP with a free or paid subscription
Politics
Kat Wong

US tariffs should be a 'wake-up call' for Australia

The coalition wants the prime minister to negotiate directly with Donald Trump on tariffs. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Australia is being urged to reconsider its relationship with the US after Donald Trump imposed hefty tariffs on all trading partners.

The US president has flagged further trade measures, putting more pressure on the federal government after Australia failed to secure an exemption from his 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium.

Greens leader Adam Bandt does not believe retaliatory tariffs would be the right response, but warned the nation should not be "hitching Australia's wagon" to Mr Trump.

The Port Kembla Steelworks in Wollongong (file image)
Steel and aluminium exports to the US are being slugged with 25 per cent tariffs. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

"Donald Trump is a threat to peace, a threat to democracy and he's a threat to Australia as well," Mr Bandt told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday.

"Donald Trump right now is attacking marginalised communities at home and delivering for billionaires and he's attacking allies and ripping up longstanding agreements.

"This should be a wake-up call for Australia that we need to rethink our relationship with the United States."

Australia is continuing to negotiate, with Trade Minister Don Farrell having spoken to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday, but Australia's future remains unclear.

"It wasn't a pessimistic conversation," Senator Farrell told Sky News.

"But he gave no assurances about what might happen in the next round of negotiations."

Trade Minister Don Farrell (file image)
Trade Minister Don Farrell says it's still unclear what the US is seeking. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

The trade minister has another talk scheduled with US trade representative Jamieson Greer on Tuesday.

"We're going to work out, firstly, what it is that the Americans want out of this arrangement," Senator Farrell said.

"It's still still not clear to me what it is that they are seeking, but once we find that out, we'll work through this issue, and we'll work through it in Australia's national interest."

The coalition has argued the government should have gone further and sent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Washington DC for face-to-face talks with the president.

"This is a Team Australia moment, but where was the captain of the team? He wasn't there," Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley told Sky News.

Greens leader Adam Bandt (file image)
Greens leader Adam Bandt wants Australia to turn its attention to nations other than the US. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Mr Bandt 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.

Senator Farrell confirmed Australia had reached out to other nations, such as South Korea, about expanding and diversifying trade relationships.

Mr Bandt also urged Australia to pull out of the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement with the US, but Labor and coalition politicians insist the deal is in Australian interests.

License this article

Sign up to read this article for free
Choose between a free or paid subscription to AAP News
Start reading
Already a member? Sign in here
Top stories on AAP right now