Australia to push US for steel tariff exemption, PM Anthony Albanese says

The Australian government will urge the United States to grant exemptions on steel tariffs and has raised the issue with President Donald Trump's administration, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in parliament on Monday.

On Sunday, Trump said he will introduce new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the US, adding to existing duties, in a further escalation of his trade policies.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the tariffs, which he will announce on Monday, will apply to "any steel coming into the United States," and will also cover aluminium.


During his previous term from 2017 to 2021, Trump imposed similar tariffs to protect US industries, arguing that they faced unfair competition from Asian and European countries.

Australia’s Trade Minister Don Farrell said on Monday that the country’s steel and aluminium exports to the US support "good paying American jobs" and play a key role in shared defence interests. He said Australia, a key US security ally in the Indo-Pacific, is pressing Washington for an exemption and making the case for "free and fair trade, including access into the U.S. market for Australian steel and aluminium" in talks with the Trump administration.