| Good morning Tylko, Welcome to our federal election newsletter.
Donald Trump
has injected himself into the federal election campaign in a way that only he can. The billionaire US President couldn’t care less about foreign leaders warning about the economic and strategic fallout of his tariffs war.
Trump believes he is doing what he told the US people he would do and will stop at nothing to deliver his America First agenda. Whatever people think about the merits and dangers of this agenda, at least he took one to an election.
The 10 per cent tariffs applied on Australian goods by the Trump administration, which falsely claimed were reciprocal, carried a discount other countries weren’t afforded.
As revealed by The Australian, business leaders briefed by Trade Minister Don Farrell on Monday believed his warnings of 20 per cent tariffs were overstated so Labor could claim a political win when the figure came in lower.
Despite Trump’s predictable attack on Australian beef exports, valued at $4.4bn in 2024, US importers will continue to source the high quality product. The 29 and 10 per cent tariff hits on the Australian territories of Norfolk Island and the barren Antarctic Heard and McDonald Islands added comedic value to Trump’s bizarre Liberation Day theatrics.
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton knew the tariffs were coming.
Albanese had been gradually ratcheting up his rhetoric, hoping to emulate the “Trump bump” popularity boost enjoyed by world leaders who took on Trump in countries such as Canada, Mexico, the UK, Ukraine and France.
Dutton, who had been more careful in pushing back against Trump, joined the fray in the first week of the election campaign. With Labor brazenly framing his policies as borrowed from Trump, the Opposition Leader is managing the “Trump effect” as he strives to convince voters he would be stronger and more effective in dealing with the US President.
When Albanese called the May 3 election last Friday, he factored in that the back half of the first week would be dominated by Trump’s tariffs. While the Prime Minister is oozing confidence on the back of improving polls and tough talk on Trump, he shouldn’t be complacent with four bruising weeks of campaigning to go. | 
