This follows Donald Trump’s response to a true social attack on a personal attack from former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to “pick up the phone” and spoke about trade tariffs with President Donald Trump amid a dispute with former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Turnbull and Trump recently traded the blow after the former Australian prime minister launched a stinging responsibilities of the president’s policy in multiple interviews.
The US has been trying to impose global steel and trade tariffs since March 12th, but Australia is seeking exemptions.
Dutton declined to criticize Turnbull when asked whether his former liberal colleagues had put Trump’s negotiations with the United States in danger.
“These are important discussions that are happening as they are not exempt from trade tariffs without these discussions and are currently ongoing. I think that is in the hands of the Prime Minister at this time.”
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Dutton urged Albanese to stop “grabing it” and take action to ensure an exemption from Australia’s tariffs.
He said the priority is to secure transactions as tariffs on Australia’s employment and industry have a negative impact.
Opposition leaders also opposed the “analysis” as Turnbull’s time leader, saying that the important aspect is not TIT of TAT.
When he picked up the phone for Turnbull and asked him if he would “back-off,” Dutton replied “No.”
At another press conference on the afternoon of March 11, Dutton called on the Prime Minister to call Trump, describing the tariff issue as a “very important issue” for Australia’s steel and aluminum industries.
“These buildings, windows, doors, and much of what you see in the construction environment of this country cannot rely on steel and aluminum. The 25% tariff doesn’t need to be applied, but it depends on the prime minister,” Dutton said.
Turnbull was able to negotiate with Trump during the first presidency that Australia avoided applying these tariffs. Albanese is still working to secure the exemption.
This comes after Trump accused Turnbull of failing to grasp China and became true to blame the average Australian for lack of ability to lead Turnbull, saying that he shares his views.
“I always thought he was a weak and ineffective leader, so obviously the Australians agreed with me,” he said.
This followed after Turnbull denounced Trump’s character and claimed Xi Jinshu, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), would bring great benefits to the president. He was a critic of Trump’s longtime voice.
Turnbull also argued that Australia’s relations with China have “now improved significantly.”
“My prediction is that XI is aiming for the exact opposite of Trump. Where Trump is confused, he will be consistent. If Trump is rude and abusive, he will be respectful. Where Trump is unstable, he will be consistent,” Turnbull told Bloomberg.
“And what it does is build trust with the country, and there are many countries that look at China on the one hand and see Trump on the other, and that China becomes a more attractive partner.”
Turnbull also argued that it was “much more difficult” this time for Australia to secure tariff exemptions.
The Prime Minister talks about trade surplus with the US
Australia’s US ambassador Kevin Rudd has been lobbying US officials for exemptions.
So far, there have been no words from the government regarding Australia’s fate, but Albanese spoke about the country’s advantages in an interview.
“We’re still engaged constructively, we’re working. It’s Australia’s interests, but Australia’s exemption from tariffs is also a US economic benefit, and of course it’s just a raise for the prices of buyers of those products,” Albanese told reporters at Lismore on March 10.
Albanese said the US enjoys a trade surplus with Australia and has done so since Truman’s presidency.
“We are partners with the United States through our free trade agreements and will continue to defend Australia’s national interests,” he said.
