No deal for tariff relief

AUSTRALIA won’t be obliged to join whatever America’s next military outing is just because the Turnbull government secured exemptions from steel and aluminium tariffs, our trade minister insists.

US President Donald Trump said in a tweet his administration was “working very quickly on a security agreement so we don’t have to impose steel or aluminum (sic) tariffs on our ally, the great nation of Australia”.

He also lauded Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s commitment to “a very fair and reciprocal military and trade relationship”, after eight months of Australian ministers and officials putting just this argument to the Trump administration.

Questions have been raised over what such a security agreement might entail, especially in light of Mr Trump telling the prime minister in February he would love Australia to join the US on new freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea.

But Trade Minister Steve Ciobo says there’s no implicit understanding about a quid pro quo linking trade and military promises.