a day ago
Nationals Senate leader blasts Foreign Minister as she returns from Washington without a trade deal
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has been accused of returning from the US empty-handed after having failed to achieve a trade deal with the Trump administration or secure a meeting with the president.
The Foreign Minister was in Washington DC for the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting and was able to talk with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio - but was unable to secure a carve out from the 10 per cent tariffs or a meeting with President Donald Trump.
Speaking to Sky News, Nationals senate leader Bridget McKenzie was scathing about the Foreign Minister's trip to the US.
'She was unable to secure an exemption on our tariffs despite the United Kingdom being able to get an exemption,' she said on Sky News NewsDay.
'She was unable secure a meeting with President Trump for our Prime Minister. 240 days since this guy's been in the White House and we're unable to land a critical and important meeting with our most important ally.'
She also went onto accuse the Prime Minister of being closer with Chinese president Xi Jinping, after it was confirmed that Anthony Albanese will meet with him while travelling to the Quad summit.
'Albo's about to get on the plane and head over to see President Xi. So, you know, I think it is very concerning."
Mr Albanese has yet to secure a meeting with the US President despite Mr Trump returning to the White House nearly a year ago.
The pair were due to have a sit-down meeting at the G7, but Mr Trump cancelled and returned to Washington DC due to the crisis in the Middle East.
Ms Wong spoke to AM Agenda Host Laura Jayes in Washington DC and downplayed any concerns around the AUKUS agreement, or on securing tariff relief.
'We're obviously very flexible about those arrangements. The President is a very, very busy man,' Ms Wong said, before adding that Secretary Rubio was hopeful a meeting between Mr Albanese and President Trump takes place.
When asked about the tariffs, Minister Wong was pressed on what action had been done by the government to change Trump's mind.
'The US has a trade surplus with us,' she said.
'There's a lot of benefit to the United States from the free tariff arrangements that exist under our Free Trade Agreement.'
The scrambling for a meeting with President Trump comes amid concerns Mr Albanese is being snubbed because of US Ambassador Kevin Rudd.
The former Prime Minister made statements critical of Mr Trump prior to becoming Mr Albanese's pick to be US ambassador.
