Australia's Prime Minster Anthony Albanese said United States President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs were an act of “economic self-harm”.
It was confirmed today by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt that Trump has ruled out tariff exemptions for Australia. The 25% tariff on Australian steel and aluminium will be later today.
“American steel first. If they want to move their steel manufacturers here, they're welcome to do so,” Leavitt told 9News reporters.
“Donald Trump considered it, then considered against it.”
In response, Albanese called the implementation of the tariffs for Australia “entirely unjustified”.
"Australia has a close relationship with the United States. Friends need to act in a way that reinforces, to our respective populations, the fact that we are friends," Albanese said.
"This is not a friendly act. But it is imposed on every country, that is important."
In an interview with Sky News, Foreign Minister Penny Wong echoed the Prime Minister's statements warning that Americans would feel the pain of the “unprovoked and unjustified tariffs” and believes it will only add to the rising cost of living.
"Guess who will pay the price of this? It's actually Americans, American consumers. These tariffs will harm the ordinary American and the American economy," she told Sky News.
"[It is] not the way to treat a friend and partner".
While Albanese is optimistic about the matter not being final, as it took many months to secure exemptions in Trump’s previous term, he said today’s refusal was harmful.
"This is against the spirit of our two nations' enduring friendship and fundamentally at odds with the benefit of our economic partnership that has delivered over more than 70 years," he said.
The tariffs have also come under scrutiny within the steel industry, as BlueScope Steel said they would continue to lobby the US over the decision.
Aluminium businesses, like Tomago Aluminium, have also begun to consider alternatives.
"Certainly, at the top level, it would be absolutely devastating to our local economies if this does trigger a decision to wind down or close the Tomago Aluminium smelter," Business Hunter chief executive, Bob Hawes told ABC News.
"But I doubt that will be the default response from any of our operations here in Australia.
"I think their default decision would be to consider alternatives."
Albanese has noted that Australian steel and aluminium exports to the U.S. make up only 0.2% of the total value of Australian exports and said there would be further support for the industry in the upcoming Federal Budget through the “Buy Australian” campaign.
