Stop the steel

We discuss Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and what they’ll mean for Australia.
On this episode of Follow the Money, Senior Economist Matt Grudnoff joins Ebony Bennett to explain how tariffs work, Trump’s 25 per cent levy on steel and aluminium imports, and how big a deal this will be for Australia.
This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 11 February 2025 and things may have changed since recording.
Order What’s the Big Idea? 32 Big Ideas for a Better Australia now, via the Australia Institute website.
Guest: Matt Grudnoff, Senior Economist, the Australia Institute // @mattgrudnoff
Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett
Show notes:
After America, the Australia Institute
‘Trump’s latest tariff bid shows the old rules of trade no longer apply. Scraps of paper will not save us’ by Greg Jericho, Guardian Australia (February 2025)
Theme music: Blue Dot Sessions
We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.
Between the Lines Newsletter
The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.
You might also like
What have the scientists ever done for us?
Australian scientific discoveries have improved people’s lives and made the economy more productive – so why is the CSIRO being forced to shed workers again?
Rates are down (Elinor still can’t afford a house)
Rate cuts are great, but the Government needs to make sure that housing investors aren’t the main beneficiaries.
You must be coking! Are new coalmines OK if they help make steel?
Some critics argue we should lay off metallurgical coalmines because they’re used for steel, not energy. But that ignores the big picture.

