'Needs to go over there': Opposition issues fresh demand for Anthony Albanese to secure Donald Trump meeting amid tariff saga

Sky News AU

19 hours ago

Shadow Trade Minister Kevin Hogan has issued fresh calls for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to lock in a meeting with United States President Donald Trump amid the ongoing tariff saga.
President Trump has hiked tariffs on foreign steel and aluminium imports from 25 per cent to 50 per cent as part of a push to protect the manufacturing of the products in the US.
Meanwhile, a 90-day pause on the President's sweeping "Liberation Day" tariffs - which include a 10 per cent levy on various Australian goods - is set to expire next week on July 9.
The looming deadline has sparked renewed demands for the Prime Minister to urgently secure a face-to-face meeting with President Trump and strike a trade deal.
Speaking to Sky News Australia, Mr Hogan claimed Mr Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong had "flown the white flag" in efforts to obtain a tariff exemption.
"The Prime Minister obviously needs to get a meeting with Trump," Mr Hogan told Sky News host Danica De Giorgio on Thursday night.
"I mean, good on Penny Wong. She got a photo op with her counterpart in the US and obviously had conversations and that is good, and that is healthy.
"But she's never going to come back with the dialogue or with the deals that we need done ... I think they have flown the white flag and aren't going try to get exemptions to the tariffs."
Ms Wong was able to secure talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio when she recently travelled to Washington DC for the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting.
However, the Foreign Minister has been accused of returning to Australia empty-handed after failing to achieve a trade deal with the Trump administration.
Mr Hogan raised concerns about what the steel and aluminium tariffs could mean for Aussie workers in the industry.
"The steel and aluminium tariffs we have are 50 per cent," he said.
"A lot of other countries have got carve outs for that and have got a lot lower tariffs for steel and aluminium.
"We should not be giving up on that, but it looks like we have, so that's not good for our steel and aluminium workers."
The tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium imports came into effect on June 4, and are not subject to the 90-day pause.
"He (Mr Albanese) needs to go over there (to the US) because we don't agree with Trump, we don't agree with Trump on tariffs, we don't agree with him on some things," Mr Hogan said.
The Nationals Deputy Leader also expressed concerns about the future of the AUKUS pact as the US prepares to conduct a formal review of the security arrangement.
The announcement of the review came after the Trump administration called on Australia to lift defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP.
Mr Hogan warned Mr Albanese has become "inconsequential on the world stage" after failing to secure a meeting with President Trump.
"Albanese can't get a phone call, let alone a meeting with Trump," Mr Hogan said.
"He is inconsequential on the world stage - that is very damaging to us as a country on a whole lot of levels.
"A lot of Prime Ministers both Labor and Liberal (have) had far more influence on the international stage than Albanese, and it's really disappointing."
Mr Albanese is yet to clinch an in-person meeting with President Trump since the he returned to the White House following his landslide US election victory in 2024.
The pair were due to meet at the G7, but the President cancelled and returned to Washington DC due to tensions in the Middle East.
Mr Albanese and President Trump have spoken over the phone in the past, including after the Republican's election win late last year.
On Friday at Australia's Economic Outlook, hosted by Sky News and The Australian, Mr Albanese expressed confidence in his ability to secure a meeting with the President before the end of the year.
"We will have many… There'll be a range of meetings between now and the end of the year with President Trump," Mr Albanese said.
President Donald Trump has recently indicated he would start sending out letters to countries as early as July 4 outlining their tariff rates to import products to the US.
Mr Albanese said Australia would also continue to advocate for a tariff exemption regarding steel and aluminium.
"We will continue to put our case, but bear in mind that during the first Trump administration, it took some period of time for change to occur," Mr Albanese said.
Pressed on whether he thought it is likely Australia will "get a letter" by July 9, Mr Albanese anticipated Australia will still be subject to the 10 per cent baseline tariff.
Ms Wong has also confirmed Washington is keen to reschedule a face-to-face meeting between Mr Albanese and President Trump.
"I had a really good meeting yesterday with Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, and he obviously expressed regret for the meeting having to be rescheduled between the President and the Prime Minister," Ms Wong told Sky News Australia on Wednesday.
"We agreed to work together on rescheduling the meeting, so I'm looking forward to that happening."
Asked what action had been taken by the government to change President Trump's mind on imposing tariffs, Ms Wong was reiterated the US has a trade surplus with Australia.
"There's a lot of benefit to the United States from the free tariff arrangements that exist under our Free Trade Agreement," she said.