Trump on Australia's Tariffs

[Reggie Essent]

Australia does not have a trade deficit... we have a trade surplus with the USA.

PLUS we are spending billions on USA submarines.

 

If only you guys would send us the good lamb chops instead of the tough gristly ones you don't want for your markets.

 

[Herman]

Australia does not have a trade deficit... we have a trade surplus with the USA

Old Thiel keeps saying that but you seem to think he is saying the opposite.

The US has a trade deficit with almost every country. Trump is trying his hardest to change that.

[Thiel]

Australia does not have a trade deficit.

I know that. I have been saying Australia has a trade surplus with America like most countries do.

[JOE]

If only you guys would send us the good lamb chops instead of the tough gristly ones you don't want for your markets.

 

Trump will play hardball with Australia caskur caskur

And this is according to Right leaning Sky News

[Thiel]

Trump will play hardball with Australia caskur caskur

And this is according to Right leaning Sky News

Sweetie, it's called negotiating. It's what grown-ups do.

[caskur]

I know that. I have been saying Australia has a trade surplus with America like most countries do.

According to Trump Australia is one of the very few countries with a trade surplus with the USA.

[caskur]

Trump will play hardball with Australia caskur caskur

And this is according to Right leaning Sky News

Who cares... really. Other countries need what we have... if the USA don't buy it, India or Indonesia will...

I am not scared of what the USA might do.

[Herman]

According to Trump Australia is one of the very few countries with a trade surplus with the USA.

You must have misunderstood him. The US has a trade deficit with most countries. Trump has been harping on that since he announced he was seeking the Republican nomination in 2015.

[caskur]

You must have misunderstood him. The US has a trade deficit with most countries. Trump has been harping on that since he announced he was seeking the Republican nomination in 2015.

No I did not misunderstand Trump.

[Thiel]

According to Trump Australia is one of the very few countries with a trade surplus with the USA.

If he said that, it was tongue in cheek. The US has a trade deficit with most countries.

EU Posts Record Trade Surplus with U.S. as Tariffs Cloud Future
https://www.morningstar.com/news/dow-jones/202502171221/eu-posts-record-trade-surplus-with-us-as-tariffs-cloud-future

[caskur]

If he said that, it was tongue in cheek. The US has a trade deficit with most countries.

EU Posts Record Trade Surplus with U.S. as Tariffs Cloud Future
https://www.morningstar.com/news/dow-jones/202502171221/eu-posts-record-trade-surplus-with-us-as-tariffs-cloud-future

It wasn't tongue in cheek... at the time he said he would consider the situation...

He since complained Australia didn't keep its word however over a decade prices rise and fall and you cannot keep wages stagnant..

Read this link

https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/the-aussie-trade-hit-list-that-trump-may-use-to-cut-a-deal-on-tariffs-20250217-p5lclr

[caskur]

ThielT why the exemption is because we buy a lot of aircraft from the USA.




Australia News
Politics
Trump proclamation justifies tarrifs by claiming Australia broke 'verbal commitment' to reduce aluminium exports
A proclamation signed by President Donald Trump has justified the imposition of tariffs by accusing Australia of breaking a "verbal commitment" to reduce aluminium exports to the United States.

2 min read
February 11, 2025 - 7:40PM

Former Australian ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos has urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to "be confident" and to "put stuff on the table" when dealing with US President Donald Trump. His remarks come after President Trump announced a blanket 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium. However, President Trump has told Prime Minister Anthony Albanese an exemption for Australia was "under consideration". "He is the sort of leader that if he thinks, 'I'm dealing with someone weak', he'll treat them accordingly," Mr Sinodinos told Sky News Australia. "So you've just got to be in there and put your best foot forward."
Australia has been accused of breaking a "verbal commitment" to reduce aluminium exports to the United States, with the claim being used to justify the imposition of tariffs.

US President Donald Trump signed executive orders imposing 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports on Monday (local time), with the trade restrictions to come into effect on March 12.

Then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was able to negotiate a rare exemption from similar tariffs imposed during President Trump's first term in office, but the proclamation giving effect to the latest tariffs accuses Australia of breaking its word.


"The volume of US imports of primary aluminum from Australia has also surged and in 2024 was approximately 103 percent higher than the average volume for 2015 through 2017," the proclamation reportedly states.

"Australia has disregarded its verbal commitment to voluntarily restrain its aluminum exports to a reasonable level."

US President Donald Trump has signed executive orders imposing 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, with the trade restrictions to come into effect on March 12. Picture: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
US President Donald Trump has signed executive orders imposing 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, with the trade restrictions to come into effect on March 12. Picture: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Mr Turnbull has denied ever making such a commitment, telling the Sydney Morning Herald the discussion with President Trump predominantly focused on steel.

But Sky News political editor Andrew Clennell has revealed that the assurance was likely given in a subsequent agreement made between President Trump and Mr Turnbull's successor, Scott Morrison.

"There were a couple (of agreements) - one with Turnbull, one with Scott Morrison - not to impose these tariffs on Australia," Clennell said on Credlin.

"Government sources appear to be briefing out that in the previous agreement with Trump and Scott Morrison... Scott Morrison had given a guarantee that the amount of steel exported to the US would have a lid on it and would be restricted.


"And what's in the fine detail of the (latest) order... is that that's not the case; Australia and other countries exceeded caps that they promised to put on this."

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull succeeded in negotiating an exemption from tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump's first term in office, but he claims there was no assurance given to reduce aluminium exports. Picture: Nathan Edwards / NCA
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull succeeded in negotiating an exemption from tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump's first term in office, but he claims there was no assurance given to reduce aluminium exports. Picture: Nathan Edwards / NCA
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a 40-minute conversation with the US president on Tuesday when they discussed the possibility of an exemption for Australia.

President Trump has sent mixed messages about the likelihood of such an agreement.

When signing the executive orders, the US President stated they would be imposed "without exemptions or exceptions".

But when a journalist mentioned reports of the phone call with Mr Albanese, the US President confirmed he would give "great consideration" to an exemption.

"I just spoke to him. A very fine man," President Trump said of Mr Albanese.

"We have a surplus with Australia. One of the few. And the reason is they buy a lot of airplanes. They're rather far away and they need lots of airplanes.

"We actually have a surplus. It's one of the only countries which we do. And I told (Mr Albanese) that's something that we'll give great consideration to."

[Thiel]

It wasn't tongue in cheek... at the time he said he would consider the situation...

Here are the top five American trading partners and the US deficit with each one of them.
Mexico - $615 billion traded with a $102 billion deficit�
Canada - $612 billion traded with a $27 billion deficit6
China - $559 billion traded with a $346 billion deficit�
Japan - $218 billion traded with a $69 billion deficit�
Germany - $188 billion traded with a $67 billion deficit

America has a trade deficit with it's top 13 trading partners listed here. Australia is not one of the top American trading partners.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/us-trade-deficit-by-country

[Thiel]

"We have a surplus with Australia. One of the few. And the reason is they buy a lot of airplanes. They're rather far away and they need lots of airplanes.

"We actually have a surplus. It's one of the only countries which we do. And I told (Mr Albanese) that's something that we'll give great consideration to."

I thought you were saying Australia is one of the only countries with a trade surplus with the US when most countries have a trade surplus with the Americans?

[caskur]

I thought you were saying Australia is one of the only countries with a trade surplus with the US when most countries have a trade surplus with the Americans?

That is what Trump said.... how would I know, I only go by what Trump says.