US trade deals may be wrapped up by September: Bessent

Trade deals between US President Donald Trump's administration and other countries could be done by the September 1 Labor Day holiday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says.
Bessent on Friday cited talks with 18 main United States trading partners and new revisions to a deal with China aimed at expediting rare earths shipments.
The United States sent a new proposal to the European Union on Thursday and India sent a delegation to Washington DC for more talks.
"So we have countries approaching us with very good deals," Bessent said on Fox Business Network.
"We have 18 important trading partners. ... If we can ink 10 or 12 of the important 18, there are another important 20 relationships, then I think we could have trade wrapped up by Labor Day," Bessent said.
He did not mention any changes to a July 9 deadline for countries to reach deals with the United States or have tariffs spike higher, but has previously said that countries negotiating in good faith could get deals.
Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he could extend the tariff deadline or "make it shorter," adding that within the next week and a half, he would notify countries of their tariff rates.
"I'd like to just send letters out to everybody: Congratulations. You're paying 25 per cent" tariffs, Trump said in an apparent joke.
Bessent said the United States and China had resolved issues surrounding shipments of Chinese rare earth minerals and magnets to the US, further modifying a deal reached in May in Geneva.
As part of its retaliation against new US tariffs, China suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, upending supply chains central to car makers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world.
During US-China talks in May in Geneva, China committed to removing the measures imposed since April 2 but those critical materials were not moving as fast as agreed, Bessent said, so the US put countermeasures in place.
"I am confident now that we - as agreed, the magnets will flow," Bessent said, adding that these materials would go to US firms that had received them previously on a regular basis.
He did not disclose details of the latest agreement, which Trump administration officials said was reached earlier this week.
Efforts to resolve the dispute included a phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping which led to teams from both sides meeting again in London, as negotiators try to end a trade war between the world's biggest economies.
China's commerce ministry said on Friday the two countries have confirmed details on the framework of implementing the Geneva trade talks consensus.
It said China will approve export applications of controlled items in accordance with the law.
It did not mention rare earths.
China has dual-use restrictions in place on rare earths which it takes "very seriously" and has been vetting buyers to ensure that materials are not diverted for US military uses, according to an industry source.
This has slowed down the licensing process.
Indian government sources told Reuters that a trade delegation from New Delhi was back in Washington DC on Friday aiming to sew up a limited US trade deal ahead of the July 9 deadline.
Trump administration officials frequently count India among countries with which trade talks are at an advanced stage, along with Japan.
But early optimism about a simple deal to reduce India's high tariffs has hit roadblocks over disagreements on US import duties for car parts, steel and farm goods, Indian officials with direct knowledge said.
Trump said that his administration was looking to get a "full trade barrier dropping" deal with India.
"I'm not sure that that's going to happen but as of this moment, we've agreed to that - go into India and trade," Trump said.
Trade deals between US President Donald Trump's administration and other countries could be done by the September 1 Labor Day holiday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says.
Bessent on Friday cited talks with 18 main United States trading partners and new revisions to a deal with China aimed at expediting rare earths shipments.
The United States sent a new proposal to the European Union on Thursday and India sent a delegation to Washington DC for more talks.
"So we have countries approaching us with very good deals," Bessent said on Fox Business Network.
"We have 18 important trading partners. ... If we can ink 10 or 12 of the important 18, there are another important 20 relationships, then I think we could have trade wrapped up by Labor Day," Bessent said.
He did not mention any changes to a July 9 deadline for countries to reach deals with the United States or have tariffs spike higher, but has previously said that countries negotiating in good faith could get deals.
Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he could extend the tariff deadline or "make it shorter," adding that within the next week and a half, he would notify countries of their tariff rates.
"I'd like to just send letters out to everybody: Congratulations. You're paying 25 per cent" tariffs, Trump said in an apparent joke.
Bessent said the United States and China had resolved issues surrounding shipments of Chinese rare earth minerals and magnets to the US, further modifying a deal reached in May in Geneva.
As part of its retaliation against new US tariffs, China suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, upending supply chains central to car makers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world.
During US-China talks in May in Geneva, China committed to removing the measures imposed since April 2 but those critical materials were not moving as fast as agreed, Bessent said, so the US put countermeasures in place.
"I am confident now that we - as agreed, the magnets will flow," Bessent said, adding that these materials would go to US firms that had received them previously on a regular basis.
He did not disclose details of the latest agreement, which Trump administration officials said was reached earlier this week.
Efforts to resolve the dispute included a phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping which led to teams from both sides meeting again in London, as negotiators try to end a trade war between the world's biggest economies.
China's commerce ministry said on Friday the two countries have confirmed details on the framework of implementing the Geneva trade talks consensus.
It said China will approve export applications of controlled items in accordance with the law.
It did not mention rare earths.
China has dual-use restrictions in place on rare earths which it takes "very seriously" and has been vetting buyers to ensure that materials are not diverted for US military uses, according to an industry source.
This has slowed down the licensing process.
Indian government sources told Reuters that a trade delegation from New Delhi was back in Washington DC on Friday aiming to sew up a limited US trade deal ahead of the July 9 deadline.
Trump administration officials frequently count India among countries with which trade talks are at an advanced stage, along with Japan.
But early optimism about a simple deal to reduce India's high tariffs has hit roadblocks over disagreements on US import duties for car parts, steel and farm goods, Indian officials with direct knowledge said.
Trump said that his administration was looking to get a "full trade barrier dropping" deal with India.
"I'm not sure that that's going to happen but as of this moment, we've agreed to that - go into India and trade," Trump said.
Trade deals between US President Donald Trump's administration and other countries could be done by the September 1 Labor Day holiday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says.
Bessent on Friday cited talks with 18 main United States trading partners and new revisions to a deal with China aimed at expediting rare earths shipments.
The United States sent a new proposal to the European Union on Thursday and India sent a delegation to Washington DC for more talks.
"So we have countries approaching us with very good deals," Bessent said on Fox Business Network.
"We have 18 important trading partners. ... If we can ink 10 or 12 of the important 18, there are another important 20 relationships, then I think we could have trade wrapped up by Labor Day," Bessent said.
He did not mention any changes to a July 9 deadline for countries to reach deals with the United States or have tariffs spike higher, but has previously said that countries negotiating in good faith could get deals.
Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he could extend the tariff deadline or "make it shorter," adding that within the next week and a half, he would notify countries of their tariff rates.
"I'd like to just send letters out to everybody: Congratulations. You're paying 25 per cent" tariffs, Trump said in an apparent joke.
Bessent said the United States and China had resolved issues surrounding shipments of Chinese rare earth minerals and magnets to the US, further modifying a deal reached in May in Geneva.
As part of its retaliation against new US tariffs, China suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, upending supply chains central to car makers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world.
During US-China talks in May in Geneva, China committed to removing the measures imposed since April 2 but those critical materials were not moving as fast as agreed, Bessent said, so the US put countermeasures in place.
"I am confident now that we - as agreed, the magnets will flow," Bessent said, adding that these materials would go to US firms that had received them previously on a regular basis.
He did not disclose details of the latest agreement, which Trump administration officials said was reached earlier this week.
Efforts to resolve the dispute included a phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping which led to teams from both sides meeting again in London, as negotiators try to end a trade war between the world's biggest economies.
China's commerce ministry said on Friday the two countries have confirmed details on the framework of implementing the Geneva trade talks consensus.
It said China will approve export applications of controlled items in accordance with the law.
It did not mention rare earths.
China has dual-use restrictions in place on rare earths which it takes "very seriously" and has been vetting buyers to ensure that materials are not diverted for US military uses, according to an industry source.
This has slowed down the licensing process.
Indian government sources told Reuters that a trade delegation from New Delhi was back in Washington DC on Friday aiming to sew up a limited US trade deal ahead of the July 9 deadline.
Trump administration officials frequently count India among countries with which trade talks are at an advanced stage, along with Japan.
But early optimism about a simple deal to reduce India's high tariffs has hit roadblocks over disagreements on US import duties for car parts, steel and farm goods, Indian officials with direct knowledge said.
Trump said that his administration was looking to get a "full trade barrier dropping" deal with India.
"I'm not sure that that's going to happen but as of this moment, we've agreed to that - go into India and trade," Trump said.
Trade deals between US President Donald Trump's administration and other countries could be done by the September 1 Labor Day holiday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says.
Bessent on Friday cited talks with 18 main United States trading partners and new revisions to a deal with China aimed at expediting rare earths shipments.
The United States sent a new proposal to the European Union on Thursday and India sent a delegation to Washington DC for more talks.
"So we have countries approaching us with very good deals," Bessent said on Fox Business Network.
"We have 18 important trading partners. ... If we can ink 10 or 12 of the important 18, there are another important 20 relationships, then I think we could have trade wrapped up by Labor Day," Bessent said.
He did not mention any changes to a July 9 deadline for countries to reach deals with the United States or have tariffs spike higher, but has previously said that countries negotiating in good faith could get deals.
Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he could extend the tariff deadline or "make it shorter," adding that within the next week and a half, he would notify countries of their tariff rates.
"I'd like to just send letters out to everybody: Congratulations. You're paying 25 per cent" tariffs, Trump said in an apparent joke.
Bessent said the United States and China had resolved issues surrounding shipments of Chinese rare earth minerals and magnets to the US, further modifying a deal reached in May in Geneva.
As part of its retaliation against new US tariffs, China suspended exports of a wide range of critical minerals and magnets, upending supply chains central to car makers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world.
During US-China talks in May in Geneva, China committed to removing the measures imposed since April 2 but those critical materials were not moving as fast as agreed, Bessent said, so the US put countermeasures in place.
"I am confident now that we - as agreed, the magnets will flow," Bessent said, adding that these materials would go to US firms that had received them previously on a regular basis.
He did not disclose details of the latest agreement, which Trump administration officials said was reached earlier this week.
Efforts to resolve the dispute included a phone call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping which led to teams from both sides meeting again in London, as negotiators try to end a trade war between the world's biggest economies.
China's commerce ministry said on Friday the two countries have confirmed details on the framework of implementing the Geneva trade talks consensus.
It said China will approve export applications of controlled items in accordance with the law.
It did not mention rare earths.
China has dual-use restrictions in place on rare earths which it takes "very seriously" and has been vetting buyers to ensure that materials are not diverted for US military uses, according to an industry source.
This has slowed down the licensing process.
Indian government sources told Reuters that a trade delegation from New Delhi was back in Washington DC on Friday aiming to sew up a limited US trade deal ahead of the July 9 deadline.
Trump administration officials frequently count India among countries with which trade talks are at an advanced stage, along with Japan.
But early optimism about a simple deal to reduce India's high tariffs has hit roadblocks over disagreements on US import duties for car parts, steel and farm goods, Indian officials with direct knowledge said.
Trump said that his administration was looking to get a "full trade barrier dropping" deal with India.
"I'm not sure that that's going to happen but as of this moment, we've agreed to that - go into India and trade," Trump said.

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Donald Trump news: US President predicts Gaza ceasefire ‘within a week', talks with Israel and Hamas intensify

West Australian

32 minutes ago

West Australian

Donald Trump news: US President predicts Gaza ceasefire ‘within a week', talks with Israel and Hamas intensify

US President Donald Trump has expressed optimism that a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas militants could be achieved within the next week. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said a deal between Israel and Hamas may be imminent. He added that he had recently spoken with individuals involved in the ongoing negotiations to halt hostilities in the region. Hamas has said it is willing to free remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel says it can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms. The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Gaza's health ministry says Israel's post-October 7 military assault has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. The assault has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza's entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations. Interest in resolving the Gaza conflict has picked up steam in the wake of the US and Israeli bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities. A ceasefire to the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict went into effect early this week. 'I think it's close. I just spoke to some of the people involved,' Mr Trump said. 'We think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire.' He did not say who he has been talking to, but he has told reporters he was in near-daily contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the Israel-Iran conflict. Mr Trump's surprise prediction of a possible ceasefire deal in coming days came at a time when there have been few signs that the warring parties were ready to restart serious negotiations or budge from entrenched positions. A spokesperson for US special envoy Steve Witkoff's office said they had no information to share beyond Mr Trump's comments. Witkoff helped former President Joe Biden's aides broker a ceasefire and hostage release agreement shortly before Mr Trump took office in January but the deal soon unravelled. The Israeli embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer plans to visit Washington starting on Monday for talks with Trump administration officials about Gaza, Iran and a possible White House visit by Netanyahu, according to a source familiar with the matter. Netanyahu said on Thursday the outcome of Israel's war with Iran presented opportunities for peace that his country must not waste. - with Reuters

Trump predicts Gaza ceasefire ‘within the next week'

Perth Now

34 minutes ago

Perth Now

Trump predicts Gaza ceasefire ‘within the next week'

More EVs, fewer V8s: changes coming for Aussie drivers

The Advertiser

an hour ago

The Advertiser

More EVs, fewer V8s: changes coming for Aussie drivers

A hybrid Lamborghini, an electric Rolls Royce, a convoy of low-emission people-movers and a rumble of battery-powered utes "that can actually tow things" will greet thousands of attendees to Australia's latest motor show. More than 100 electric and hybrid vehicles are on display at the Melbourne EV Show over the weekend which, Future Drive Auto chief executive Ray Evans says, has become significantly easier to organise in Australia's evolving automotive market. "The changes are certainly happening fast and in the third year it takes on a different dynamic," he says. "Before we had very limited product available - obviously Tesla and BYD and a few others - but that's escalated to a point where next year there are 70 new (electric) models going to be released in Australia." In addition to more powerful electrified utes, the show has introduced low-emission luxury sports cars for the first time and Mr Evans says he expects healthy queues to form around lower priced EVs from Chinese brands such as XPENG, Leapmotor and Zeekr. Industry experts say the packed event and others like it planned for this year demonstrate Australia's transport policies are having an impact and changing the future make-up of our roads. That effect is expected to intensify next month when penalties begin under the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard that sets emissions limits for manufacturers. More electric cars are scheduled to launch and some petrol and diesel vehicles may be removed from sale, although debate continues over whether motorists are ready for the changes. For Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Julie Delvecchio, the arrival of penalties under the standard is "where the rubber hits the road" and consumers will be able to see what the rules deliver. The standard, introduced in January, sets yearly emission limits for new vehicle fleets that manufacturers must meet or trade credits or pay penalties to achieve. Brands must register new vehicles with the government from July to begin tracking emission levels, with a goal of reaching no more than 141 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre for passenger vehicles and 210 grams per km for light goods vehicles this year. Car companies that exceed these limits will have two years to address shortfalls before penalties are collected. Having fines embedded into the scheme is important for enforcement, Ms Delvecchio says, even though brands are expected to avoid them by selling more advanced, low-emission transport options. "The first of July is an important turning point for clean energy and clean transport in Australia: it's when the (standard) gets its teeth and we see the enforcement power that has been signalled for a long time," she says. "Prior to (the standard) compared to today, we have double the number of electric car models which is exactly what it's there to do." Consumers can expect to see electric vehicles that have only been available overseas until now and the replacement of some petrol and diesel vehicles with hybrid equivalents. Australia's top-selling car maker Toyota, for example, announced it would end sales of petrol vehicles in Australia where it produced a hybrid variant. "Manufacturers have known that it's coming and are adjusting, and they have to because Australia is really just falling in line with the rest of the world," Ms Delvecchio tells AAP. Similarly, Nissan says it will bring its Ariya electric SUV to Australia to coincide with the rules. These types of changes will lower the nation's transport emissions, Australian Electric Vehicle Association national president Chris Jones says, and shows manufacturers can make the rules work. "It's an indication they're starting to finally realise the homework is due," he says. "The companies that have done their homework are sitting pretty and those who haven't, despite their best efforts to get a reprieve, are going to get caught short." Popular brands such as Hyundai and Kia will be well placed to meet emission limits, Dr Jones says, although others, such as Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Mazda, with fewer low-emission options will need to make bigger changes. Those reforms could involve removing high-polluting vehicles from sale. "The fact car sellers are saying things like we're going to have to offer fewer petrol and diesel vehicles, well, that's one way to do it," he says. "You can't say they weren't warned." Several of Australia's top-selling vehicles, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Ranger, already fall under this year's emission caps and Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber says brands have worked hard to make that possible. The next hurdle for the local automotive industry may not be with the supply of electric vehicles, he warns, but with demand for them. "The concern we have is that consumers are not changing their behaviour and there's not the demand like we expected for low-emission vehicles," he says. "We're already seeing cars being removed from the market - that's been well documented - and unless there is a change in the behaviour of consumers there are going to be penalties." While sales of new hybrid vehicles have risen strongly in Australia this year, electric car sales rose modestly to represent nine per cent of all vehicles in May. The chamber had predicted EVs would make up 14 per cent of the market, Mr Weber says, and its members would like to see greater infrastructure investments and financial incentives from federal, state and territory governments to back up the new standard. "The government has put in a very stringent rule, wants consumers to quickly move and change their behaviour dramatically, but they're not prepared to subsidise it," he says. "They've got to play a role." A hybrid Lamborghini, an electric Rolls Royce, a convoy of low-emission people-movers and a rumble of battery-powered utes "that can actually tow things" will greet thousands of attendees to Australia's latest motor show. More than 100 electric and hybrid vehicles are on display at the Melbourne EV Show over the weekend which, Future Drive Auto chief executive Ray Evans says, has become significantly easier to organise in Australia's evolving automotive market. "The changes are certainly happening fast and in the third year it takes on a different dynamic," he says. "Before we had very limited product available - obviously Tesla and BYD and a few others - but that's escalated to a point where next year there are 70 new (electric) models going to be released in Australia." In addition to more powerful electrified utes, the show has introduced low-emission luxury sports cars for the first time and Mr Evans says he expects healthy queues to form around lower priced EVs from Chinese brands such as XPENG, Leapmotor and Zeekr. Industry experts say the packed event and others like it planned for this year demonstrate Australia's transport policies are having an impact and changing the future make-up of our roads. That effect is expected to intensify next month when penalties begin under the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard that sets emissions limits for manufacturers. More electric cars are scheduled to launch and some petrol and diesel vehicles may be removed from sale, although debate continues over whether motorists are ready for the changes. For Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Julie Delvecchio, the arrival of penalties under the standard is "where the rubber hits the road" and consumers will be able to see what the rules deliver. The standard, introduced in January, sets yearly emission limits for new vehicle fleets that manufacturers must meet or trade credits or pay penalties to achieve. Brands must register new vehicles with the government from July to begin tracking emission levels, with a goal of reaching no more than 141 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre for passenger vehicles and 210 grams per km for light goods vehicles this year. Car companies that exceed these limits will have two years to address shortfalls before penalties are collected. Having fines embedded into the scheme is important for enforcement, Ms Delvecchio says, even though brands are expected to avoid them by selling more advanced, low-emission transport options. "The first of July is an important turning point for clean energy and clean transport in Australia: it's when the (standard) gets its teeth and we see the enforcement power that has been signalled for a long time," she says. "Prior to (the standard) compared to today, we have double the number of electric car models which is exactly what it's there to do." Consumers can expect to see electric vehicles that have only been available overseas until now and the replacement of some petrol and diesel vehicles with hybrid equivalents. Australia's top-selling car maker Toyota, for example, announced it would end sales of petrol vehicles in Australia where it produced a hybrid variant. "Manufacturers have known that it's coming and are adjusting, and they have to because Australia is really just falling in line with the rest of the world," Ms Delvecchio tells AAP. Similarly, Nissan says it will bring its Ariya electric SUV to Australia to coincide with the rules. These types of changes will lower the nation's transport emissions, Australian Electric Vehicle Association national president Chris Jones says, and shows manufacturers can make the rules work. "It's an indication they're starting to finally realise the homework is due," he says. "The companies that have done their homework are sitting pretty and those who haven't, despite their best efforts to get a reprieve, are going to get caught short." Popular brands such as Hyundai and Kia will be well placed to meet emission limits, Dr Jones says, although others, such as Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Mazda, with fewer low-emission options will need to make bigger changes. Those reforms could involve removing high-polluting vehicles from sale. "The fact car sellers are saying things like we're going to have to offer fewer petrol and diesel vehicles, well, that's one way to do it," he says. "You can't say they weren't warned." Several of Australia's top-selling vehicles, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Ranger, already fall under this year's emission caps and Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber says brands have worked hard to make that possible. The next hurdle for the local automotive industry may not be with the supply of electric vehicles, he warns, but with demand for them. "The concern we have is that consumers are not changing their behaviour and there's not the demand like we expected for low-emission vehicles," he says. "We're already seeing cars being removed from the market - that's been well documented - and unless there is a change in the behaviour of consumers there are going to be penalties." While sales of new hybrid vehicles have risen strongly in Australia this year, electric car sales rose modestly to represent nine per cent of all vehicles in May. The chamber had predicted EVs would make up 14 per cent of the market, Mr Weber says, and its members would like to see greater infrastructure investments and financial incentives from federal, state and territory governments to back up the new standard. "The government has put in a very stringent rule, wants consumers to quickly move and change their behaviour dramatically, but they're not prepared to subsidise it," he says. "They've got to play a role." A hybrid Lamborghini, an electric Rolls Royce, a convoy of low-emission people-movers and a rumble of battery-powered utes "that can actually tow things" will greet thousands of attendees to Australia's latest motor show. More than 100 electric and hybrid vehicles are on display at the Melbourne EV Show over the weekend which, Future Drive Auto chief executive Ray Evans says, has become significantly easier to organise in Australia's evolving automotive market. "The changes are certainly happening fast and in the third year it takes on a different dynamic," he says. "Before we had very limited product available - obviously Tesla and BYD and a few others - but that's escalated to a point where next year there are 70 new (electric) models going to be released in Australia." In addition to more powerful electrified utes, the show has introduced low-emission luxury sports cars for the first time and Mr Evans says he expects healthy queues to form around lower priced EVs from Chinese brands such as XPENG, Leapmotor and Zeekr. Industry experts say the packed event and others like it planned for this year demonstrate Australia's transport policies are having an impact and changing the future make-up of our roads. That effect is expected to intensify next month when penalties begin under the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard that sets emissions limits for manufacturers. More electric cars are scheduled to launch and some petrol and diesel vehicles may be removed from sale, although debate continues over whether motorists are ready for the changes. For Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Julie Delvecchio, the arrival of penalties under the standard is "where the rubber hits the road" and consumers will be able to see what the rules deliver. The standard, introduced in January, sets yearly emission limits for new vehicle fleets that manufacturers must meet or trade credits or pay penalties to achieve. Brands must register new vehicles with the government from July to begin tracking emission levels, with a goal of reaching no more than 141 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre for passenger vehicles and 210 grams per km for light goods vehicles this year. Car companies that exceed these limits will have two years to address shortfalls before penalties are collected. Having fines embedded into the scheme is important for enforcement, Ms Delvecchio says, even though brands are expected to avoid them by selling more advanced, low-emission transport options. "The first of July is an important turning point for clean energy and clean transport in Australia: it's when the (standard) gets its teeth and we see the enforcement power that has been signalled for a long time," she says. "Prior to (the standard) compared to today, we have double the number of electric car models which is exactly what it's there to do." Consumers can expect to see electric vehicles that have only been available overseas until now and the replacement of some petrol and diesel vehicles with hybrid equivalents. Australia's top-selling car maker Toyota, for example, announced it would end sales of petrol vehicles in Australia where it produced a hybrid variant. "Manufacturers have known that it's coming and are adjusting, and they have to because Australia is really just falling in line with the rest of the world," Ms Delvecchio tells AAP. Similarly, Nissan says it will bring its Ariya electric SUV to Australia to coincide with the rules. These types of changes will lower the nation's transport emissions, Australian Electric Vehicle Association national president Chris Jones says, and shows manufacturers can make the rules work. "It's an indication they're starting to finally realise the homework is due," he says. "The companies that have done their homework are sitting pretty and those who haven't, despite their best efforts to get a reprieve, are going to get caught short." Popular brands such as Hyundai and Kia will be well placed to meet emission limits, Dr Jones says, although others, such as Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Mazda, with fewer low-emission options will need to make bigger changes. Those reforms could involve removing high-polluting vehicles from sale. "The fact car sellers are saying things like we're going to have to offer fewer petrol and diesel vehicles, well, that's one way to do it," he says. "You can't say they weren't warned." Several of Australia's top-selling vehicles, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Ranger, already fall under this year's emission caps and Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber says brands have worked hard to make that possible. The next hurdle for the local automotive industry may not be with the supply of electric vehicles, he warns, but with demand for them. "The concern we have is that consumers are not changing their behaviour and there's not the demand like we expected for low-emission vehicles," he says. "We're already seeing cars being removed from the market - that's been well documented - and unless there is a change in the behaviour of consumers there are going to be penalties." While sales of new hybrid vehicles have risen strongly in Australia this year, electric car sales rose modestly to represent nine per cent of all vehicles in May. The chamber had predicted EVs would make up 14 per cent of the market, Mr Weber says, and its members would like to see greater infrastructure investments and financial incentives from federal, state and territory governments to back up the new standard. "The government has put in a very stringent rule, wants consumers to quickly move and change their behaviour dramatically, but they're not prepared to subsidise it," he says. "They've got to play a role." A hybrid Lamborghini, an electric Rolls Royce, a convoy of low-emission people-movers and a rumble of battery-powered utes "that can actually tow things" will greet thousands of attendees to Australia's latest motor show. More than 100 electric and hybrid vehicles are on display at the Melbourne EV Show over the weekend which, Future Drive Auto chief executive Ray Evans says, has become significantly easier to organise in Australia's evolving automotive market. "The changes are certainly happening fast and in the third year it takes on a different dynamic," he says. "Before we had very limited product available - obviously Tesla and BYD and a few others - but that's escalated to a point where next year there are 70 new (electric) models going to be released in Australia." In addition to more powerful electrified utes, the show has introduced low-emission luxury sports cars for the first time and Mr Evans says he expects healthy queues to form around lower priced EVs from Chinese brands such as XPENG, Leapmotor and Zeekr. Industry experts say the packed event and others like it planned for this year demonstrate Australia's transport policies are having an impact and changing the future make-up of our roads. That effect is expected to intensify next month when penalties begin under the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard that sets emissions limits for manufacturers. More electric cars are scheduled to launch and some petrol and diesel vehicles may be removed from sale, although debate continues over whether motorists are ready for the changes. For Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Julie Delvecchio, the arrival of penalties under the standard is "where the rubber hits the road" and consumers will be able to see what the rules deliver. The standard, introduced in January, sets yearly emission limits for new vehicle fleets that manufacturers must meet or trade credits or pay penalties to achieve. Brands must register new vehicles with the government from July to begin tracking emission levels, with a goal of reaching no more than 141 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre for passenger vehicles and 210 grams per km for light goods vehicles this year. Car companies that exceed these limits will have two years to address shortfalls before penalties are collected. Having fines embedded into the scheme is important for enforcement, Ms Delvecchio says, even though brands are expected to avoid them by selling more advanced, low-emission transport options. "The first of July is an important turning point for clean energy and clean transport in Australia: it's when the (standard) gets its teeth and we see the enforcement power that has been signalled for a long time," she says. "Prior to (the standard) compared to today, we have double the number of electric car models which is exactly what it's there to do." Consumers can expect to see electric vehicles that have only been available overseas until now and the replacement of some petrol and diesel vehicles with hybrid equivalents. Australia's top-selling car maker Toyota, for example, announced it would end sales of petrol vehicles in Australia where it produced a hybrid variant. "Manufacturers have known that it's coming and are adjusting, and they have to because Australia is really just falling in line with the rest of the world," Ms Delvecchio tells AAP. Similarly, Nissan says it will bring its Ariya electric SUV to Australia to coincide with the rules. These types of changes will lower the nation's transport emissions, Australian Electric Vehicle Association national president Chris Jones says, and shows manufacturers can make the rules work. "It's an indication they're starting to finally realise the homework is due," he says. "The companies that have done their homework are sitting pretty and those who haven't, despite their best efforts to get a reprieve, are going to get caught short." Popular brands such as Hyundai and Kia will be well placed to meet emission limits, Dr Jones says, although others, such as Isuzu, Mitsubishi and Mazda, with fewer low-emission options will need to make bigger changes. Those reforms could involve removing high-polluting vehicles from sale. "The fact car sellers are saying things like we're going to have to offer fewer petrol and diesel vehicles, well, that's one way to do it," he says. "You can't say they weren't warned." Several of Australia's top-selling vehicles, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Ranger, already fall under this year's emission caps and Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber says brands have worked hard to make that possible. The next hurdle for the local automotive industry may not be with the supply of electric vehicles, he warns, but with demand for them. "The concern we have is that consumers are not changing their behaviour and there's not the demand like we expected for low-emission vehicles," he says. "We're already seeing cars being removed from the market - that's been well documented - and unless there is a change in the behaviour of consumers there are going to be penalties." While sales of new hybrid vehicles have risen strongly in Australia this year, electric car sales rose modestly to represent nine per cent of all vehicles in May. The chamber had predicted EVs would make up 14 per cent of the market, Mr Weber says, and its members would like to see greater infrastructure investments and financial incentives from federal, state and territory governments to back up the new standard. "The government has put in a very stringent rule, wants consumers to quickly move and change their behaviour dramatically, but they're not prepared to subsidise it," he says. "They've got to play a role."