Trade talks between Australia and US 'ultimately a matter for President Trump' says Trade Minister Don Farrell ahead of G7 Summit

Sky News AU

4 hours ago

The fate of trade negotiations between Australia and the United States lies solely in the hands of President Donald Trump as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares for their meeting at the G7 Summit.
Despite repeated diplomatic efforts across multiple channels, no exemption has been secured from sweeping US tariffs on Australian goods.
Speaking to Sky News Sunday Agenda, Trade Minister Don Farrell said the Albanese government had used 'a range of ways' to reach out to Washington.
'The United States Ambassador (Kevin) Rudd obviously does it. All of our ministers make contact with their equivalents in the United States,' he said.
But after multiple high-level meetings with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer failed to yield progress, it's become clear the decision appears to lie with Trump alone.
Mr Farrell suggested that even while Mr Greer might hold sympathetic views, the final decision rests with President Trump himself.
'He certainly made it clear that these are ultimately decisions that the President of the United States will make,' Mr Farrell said.
'Look, it was a friendly discussion. It wasn't a difficult discussion in terms of the relationship between us.
'We have the opportunity to continue to talk with Jamieson and Commerce Secretary (Howard) Lutnick to put our case across that these tariffs… are simply unjustified.'
Mr Farrell stressed that the personal relationship between Mr Albanese and Mr Trump would now be 'most important' in shaping the future of trade ties.
The pair are expected to meet in Kananaskis, Canada, between June 15 and 17—marking their first in-person encounter.
'Every meeting I think between an Australian Prime Minister and a US President will always be a critical meeting,' Mr Farrell said.
'I have the greatest confidence in our Prime Minister to push the Australian point of view on this issue.'
Trade relations between the two countries have recently been strained by a series of escalating US tariffs, including the doubling of steel tariffs from 25 to 50 per cent.
President Trump has also announced a 100 per cent tariff on foreign films and a blanket 10 per cent tariff on all foreign goods.
A proposed exemption for Australia in exchange for expanded access to critical minerals was scrapped by trade advisor Peter Navarro, according to sources.
Mr Farrell said that he would not 'speculate on what might or might not have occurred' but acknowledged that a critical minerals deal was offered.
Meanwhile, Australia is considering easing biosecurity restrictions to allow US beef imports, a sensitive issue being managed delicately by Mr Farrell.
Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Tim Wilson weighed in on the challenges ahead for Mr Albanese, urging him to stand firm in representing Australia's interests.
'I always expect Australia's Prime Minister to go into a meeting with any foreign leader and always stand up for Australia's national interest,' Mr Wilson said.
'We need to be clear-eyed about our Prime Minister doing and standing up for our national interest.
'And part of that is making sure we're brokering the partnerships on defence arrangements so that we can stand up for our own sovereignty.'
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on Australia to lift defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP, up from the 2.33 per cent projected by 2033.
Mr Albanese has not ruled out further defence investment, but maintains any additional spending must be aligned with specific needs—not what he calls 'arbitrary targets'.