Trade Minister Don Farrell pushes Trump administration to scrap ‘unjustified' tariffs on Australian goods

Sky News AU

5 hours ago

Trade Minister Don Farrell has expressed optimism that the Albanese government can secure the removal of tariffs imposed by the United States President Donald Trump.
Sky News understands that a deal was initially struck to exempt Australia from US steel tariffs, but it was later scuttled by trade adviser Peter Navarro.
Mr Farrell said that he would not 'speculate on what might or might not have occurred' but acknowledged he did offer a critical minerals deal.
Mr Farrell told Sky News Sunday Agenda the trade barrier set up by President Trump was 'unjustified' and promised to keep pressing the case with senior officials.
He held two meetings last week in Paris with Jamieson Greer, the Acting United States Trade Representative, and said negotiations were ongoing.
'I did meet Jamieson Greer. I met him twice, and that's on top of previous conversations I've had with him,' Mr Farrell said.
'The position I put to Jamieson Greer is that the tariffs that the United States have imposed on Australia are unjustified.'
Mr Farrell noted that trade between Australia and the US is heavily tilted in America's favour — approximately $30 billion annually.
'There is no justification for the United States to impose tariffs on Australia…We want all of the tariffs removed, not just some of them removed,' he said.
Mr Farrell confirmed that Mr Greer acknowledged any tariff decision would ultimately rest with President Trump.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Trump are expected to meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit in mid-June 2025.
'These are ultimately decisions that the President of the United States will make,' Mr Farrell said.
'But I am certainly of the view that we have the opportunity to continue to talk… to put our case across that these tariffs on Australia are simply unjustified.'
When asked whether it was up to Mr Albanese to land a breakthrough directly with the President, Mr Farrell said he was confident in the possibility of an exemption.
'I have the greatest confidence in our Prime Minister to push the Australian point of view on this issue,' he said.
Mr Farrell also said he would continue to pursue open and 'honest discussion' with US counterparts, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, to secure a fairer deal.
The opposition has criticised the Albanese government over the lack of progress, pointing to a recent deal that saw the United Kingdom secure a 50 per cent reduction in steel tariffs from the US.
Mr Farrell did not confirm whether Australia could achieve a similar arrangement but insisted that his position — demanding full removal — was principled and justified.
'We're buying more than we're selling to them,' he said.
'It doesn't make any sense at all to impose a tariff on Australia.'