Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned President Donald Trump’s refusal to exempt Australia from aluminium and metal tariffs goes towards the “spirit of our two nations’ enduring friendship” but additionally promised no retaliation.
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the choice on March 12. The Epoch Instances has contacted the White Home for remark.
Albanese mentioned the Australian authorities would proceed to push for an exemption, however famous this might take months.
“Tariffs and escalating commerce tensions are a type of financial self-harm and a recipe for slower development and better inflation. They’re paid by the shoppers. For this reason Australia is not going to be imposing reciprocal tariffs on the US. Such a plan of action would solely push up costs for Australian shoppers and enhance inflation,” Albanese informed reporters.
“We are going to proceed to interact constructively with the US and to make the case for Australian commerce and the advantages that it offers to folks in the US of America.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media throughout a press convention in Sydney, Australia on March 12, 2025. AAP Picture/Dean Lewins
Trump’s tariffs on metal and aluminium imports into the US are set to return into pressure on March 12 (Washington time) following Trump’s proclamation on Feb. 10.
When it comes to Australia’s general exports, metal and aluminium to the US (about $1 billion) represents simply 0.2 % of the nation’s export worth, and is outdoors the highest 10 Australian merchandise exported to America.
From the US’ perspective, Australia represents just one % of metal imports, and a couple of % of aluminium. The tariffs will influence Canada, and Mexico to a bigger extent.
‘Towards the Spirit’ of US-Australia Ties
The prime minister additionally referred to as the choice “regarding.”
“It has been foreshadowed that no nation no matter its relationship with the US has been granted an exemption,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the choice by the Trump administration was “completely unjustified.”
“That is towards the spirit of our two nations’ enduring friendship and basically at odds with the advantages of that financial partnership that has delivered over greater than 70 years,” Albanese mentioned.
“Australia has no tariffs on items from the US and, after all, we’ve got an settlement with the US.”
Albanese mentioned the federal government would advocate for Australian commerce with the US at each degree and thru each channel.
“Our authorities will proceed to place ahead a really robust case for an exemption, noting that the final time this occurred it took months for that exemption to be granted,” he mentioned.
“Australia will proceed to work onerous for various outcomes, and discussions with the Trump administration are ongoing. Our authorities is ready and has been partaking instantly with the Australian metal and aluminium business and we’ll proceed to work by way of this with them.”
Additional, the prime minister mentioned Australia would proceed to diversify markets for its merchandise in demand globally.
“All Australians after all can be a part of this effort and assist our industries by taking the chance to purchase Australian, and the March finances will present extra assist for our purchase Australian marketing campaign, which we will probably be asserting as a part of that finances course of,” Albanese added.
Dutton Urged Albanese For Motion
Opposition Chief Peter Dutton has lately referred to as on the prime minister to “decide up the cellphone” and make a cope with the U.S. president on tariffs.
He that it might be “unjust” for the tariffs to be utilized as a result of Australia has a buying and selling surplus with the US.
Dutton additionally mentioned there was no sense within the prime minister saying that he’s “petrified of Donald Trump.”
“He wants to have the ability to cope with the president, and it’s in our nation’s greatest curiosity that he’s profitable, I would like him to achieve success, however he’s really obtained to select up the cellphone and begin doing the work, as [former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull] did 5 – 6 years in the past,” he mentioned.
Risk to US Nationwide Safety
In Trump’s first time period, Australia was capable of negotiate an exemption to related tariffs.
In a proclamation signed on Feb. 10, Trump expressed concern that different commerce agreements on metal imports with a number of international locations, together with Australia, haven’t been as profitable in defending U.S. nationwide safety as initially meant.
“In consequence, imports of metal articles from these international locations have elevated as a share of complete U.S. metal imports from 18.6 % in 2020 to twenty.7 % in 2024,” the order says.