Australia’s intensive lobbying to be exempt from America’s steel and aluminium tariff rollout may amount to naught, with Donald Trump reconfirming his commitment to a more comprehensive global regime.
Trump doubled down on his plan to “take in hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs” in comments aligning with his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, and director of the White House National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett. They have said tariffs would be imposed from 12 March, and that no exemptions will be granted.
Previously, Trump said he would give “great consideration” to exempting Australia, much like in 2018 when the then prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, successfully navigated reprieve from sweeping US tariffs. Turnbull’s input may have had the opposite effect this time around, with his recent remarks that Trump is a “weak and ineffective leader” allegedly invoking the US president’s ire.
Top news
In pictures
Married artists Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan are inviting Bundanon Art Museum visitors to contribute to their new work – which “demystifies the idea of art as an individual pursuit”.
What they said …
“Either way I am proud.”
The former Australian of the Year Richard Scolyer has shared news of his brain cancer returning, and that surgery to remove it was unsuccessful. The world-leading pathologist was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer in 2023, which he treated with pioneering immunotherapy based on his own research.
after newsletter promotion
In numbers
On Sunday, Trump could not say if his on-again, off-again protectionist policies could lead the US into a recession, sending shock waves through global markets.
Before bed read
“What does it cost you to let others finish your bowl of chips at the pub?” Luca Ittimani asks in his petty gripe. People keep throwing away their food without asking him if he wants it. His motto? “There’s no such thing as food too old to eat.”
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: LAS. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Afternoon Update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or start your day with a curated breakdown of the key stories you need to know with our Morning Mail newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.