Australian government scrambles to secure exemptions to Trump’s 25% tariff on steel imports Ministers were seeking return of Turnbull-era exemptions ahead of US president’s announcement of new duties on steel and aluminium.
The Australian government is still trying to secure exemptions to new 25% tariffs that Donald Trump says will be imposed on all steel and aluminium imported into the United States.
Trump, during his first term, imposed tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium, but later granted several trading partners duty-free quotas, including Australia, when Malcolm Turnbull was prime minister.
The Albanese government has been bracing for such a decision, with senior ministers and officials working behind the scenes for some time to secure tariff exemptions on Australian exports as were achieved during Trump’s first term in office.
Documents obtained under freedom of information found officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had recommended talking points emphasising Australia bought more products from America than it exported, and Albanese government ministers have stressed the economic benefits of the Australia-US trade relationship.
