Canberra Seeks U.S. Tariff Relief, Highlights Job Creation

Image Credit: Reuters

Australia's trade minister emphasized that the country’s steel and aluminum exports to the U.S. support "well-paying American jobs" and play a crucial role in mutual defense interests, as Canberra seeks an exemption from President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs.  

Trump announced on Sunday that he would impose new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S., adding to existing metal duties as part of his aggressive trade policy shift.  

On Monday, Trade Minister Don Farrell stated that Australia, a key U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific, is advocating for "free and fair trade," including continued access to the U.S. market for Australian steel and aluminum, in discussions with the Trump administration.  

"Australian steel and aluminum contribute to thousands of well-paying American jobs and are vital to our shared defense interests," Farrell said in a statement.  

Although Farrell has yet to meet his U.S. counterpart, who has not been confirmed in the role, Australian officials have been engaging with Washington for months, pushing for an exemption similar to the one granted under Trump’s administration in 2018.  

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Richard Marles met with his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in Washington on Friday, as Australia made its first $500 million payment to enhance U.S. submarine production under the AUKUS defense pact, which includes Australia's acquisition of U.S. nuclear-powered submarines.

Paraphrasing text from "Reuters" all rights reserved by the original author