US President Donald Trump says he is reviewing a request from Australia to exempt its steel and aluminum exports from new tariffs. While Trump imposed a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, he indicated he would 'give great consideration' to Australia's case, citing their trade surplus with the US and strong military ties.
United States President Donald Trump stated that he is giving 'great consideration' to requests from Australia for an exemption on steel and aluminium tariffs. Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday to impose a blanket 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminium imports, asserting there would be 'no exceptions, no nothing'. This declaration cast doubt on Australia 's prospects of securing an exemption after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese conveyed his plea to Trump earlier that morning.
Following a 40-minute conversation with Albanese, Trump characterized the prime minister as a 'very fine man'. 'We have a surplus with Australia. One of the few. And the reason is they buy a lot of airplanes,' Trump told reporters. 'I told him that that's something that we'll give great consideration to,' he added, referring to tariff exemptions. Earlier, Albanese emphasized the benefits of Australia's trade relationship with the US, projected to reach US$7 billion (AU$11 billion) over the next decade, during Tuesday's call with Trump. 'I presented Australia's case for an exemption,' Albanese stated to reporters in Canberra. 'We agreed on wording to say publicly, which is that the US President agreed that an exemption was under consideration in the interests of both of our countries.' A tariff is a tax imposed on foreign goods imported into a country, often driving up the price of the product to cover the additional fee. Conversely, locally produced goods would be exempt from the levy and potentially cheaper. Albanese described the call as 'constructive and warm,' adhering to the phrasing 'under consideration' as per his agreement with Trump. 'We'll continue to engage diplomatically, and we, of course, will use all of the human assets at our disposal… to stand up for Australia's interests.' Albanese and Australia's US ambassador, Kevin Rudd, face mounting pressure to secure a deal akin to the exemption negotiated in 2018 by then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. The prime minister reaffirmed that the relationship with their closest ally was 'off to a tremendous start', hinting at the next meeting with Trump occurring at the Quad summit 'or before'. This development is unlikely to alleviate concerns within affected industries. Minerals Council CEO Tania Constable expressed that tariffs on Australian goods set a 'concerning precedent.' 'The real question is whether Australia is in the best position to weather these global changes. Right now, we aren't,' she stated in a release. 'While our competitors are cutting costs and attracting investment, Australian industry is being weighed down by policies that make it harder to invest, expand, and compete,' Constable added. 'If we don't fix this, we risk losing the very industries that keep our economy strong.' Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black remained optimistic before the call regarding Australia's prospects of securing an exemption. 'Australia has a good story to tell - the US has a trade surplus with us and we have long-standing cultural and military ties between countries, particularly with the significant AUKUS agreement,' he said. Opposition leader Peter Dutton warned that if the US implemented tariffs, it could jeopardize the relationship between the two nations, expressing bipartisan support for exemptions. 'I want there to be a very clear message to the Trump administration that we don't believe that this tariff should be put in place and if it remains in place, then I believe it will damage the relationship between the United States and Australia.
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