Trump Signals Talks with Australia Over Trade Tariffs

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Speaking from the White House on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST), the U.S. President confirmed that a conversation is coming, after being pressed by a reporter about Australia’s efforts to make contact.

“They are calling and I will be talking to him. Yes,” Trump said, in reference to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

The statement comes just weeks after Trump slapped 10% tariffs on hundreds of countries and territories, including Australia, on what he dubbed “Liberation Day” for the American people.

Unsurprisingly, the move didn’t sit well with the Aussie PM. Albanese labelled the tariffs as something that “is not the act of a friend or ally”, and said Australia had tried reaching out but hadn’t heard back from the U.S. side — until now.

Trump didn’t give any timeline on when a chat might happen, or whether it would come before or after Australia’s federal election this Saturday. But according to White House officials, the election isn’t a deal-breaker in terms of opening talks.

Still, the silence until now has raised eyebrows, especially since Australia and the U.S. have long-standing ties — and slapping tariffs on your allies isn’t exactly a warm diplomatic move.

This brief comment from Trump came as he marked the first 100 days of his second term, though he’s not exactly basking in public approval. Only about 4 in 10 Americans approve of his performance, and his numbers on handling the economy and trade are even lower.

So while a conversation might finally be on the horizon, it’s clear there’s a bit of mending to do between Washington and Canberra.

Want a quick breakdown of how these tariffs could affect Aussie industries or exports?

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