Trade Minister Don Farrell insists tariff deal for Donald Trump in talks with hope for ‘offer he can’t refuse’

Trade Minister Don Farrell has vowed to continue discussions with the US about an Australian tariff exemption, saying the Government wanted to make President Donald Trump “an offer he can’t refuse”.

Leaning on his “Godfather” nickname, Senator Farrell said while recent calls with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had been optimistic, there had been no assurances about the next round of negotiations.

The comments come in the week after Mr Trump made good on his threats to implement a 25 per cent tariff on Australian steel and aluminium imports into the US.

Senator Farrell said he had expressed disappointment over Australia’s failure to win a tariff exemption in a phone call with Mr Lutnick last week.

“It wasn’t a pessimistic conversation, I’m pleased to say, but he gave no assurances about what what might happen in the next round of negotiations, our job is to sit down and continue to talk.,” he told Sky News.

“I indicated to him that we want to continue to talk with him. I find that discussion is the best way to resolve these issues, not retaliatory tariffs, but discussion

“What we need to do, Andrew is find out what it is that the Americans want in terms of this relationship between Australia and the United States and and then make President Trump an offer he can’t refuse.”

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Labor’s failure to secure a deal showed a weak relationship between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Mr Trump.

“Now, the problem here is this, this is a team Australia moment, this is a Team Australia moment. But where was the captain of the team. He wasn’t there. He didn’t actually go to the US,” she said.

“All of our AUKUS and QUAD leaders personally made the trip to DC to furiously advocate for their country’s interests. We didn’t even have the captain on the field.

“Foundationally every country’s relationship with the US is based on the relationship between its leader and President Trump that is clear and consistent between the first Trump Administration and the second.

“We were caught completely flat footed.”