Albanese urges Trump to exempt Australia from tariffs in ‘warm and productive’ call

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, urging an exemption from tariffs imposed on Australia last month. Albanese requested the president to either fully exempt Australia from tariffs or prevent any increase, according to reports. Last month, Australia was hit with a 12.5% tariff in response to allegations of forced labor concerns, joining 59 other countries.

Albanese described their conversation as "warm and productive," noting that Trump agreed to consider exempting Australia from the tariff. He emphasized that Australia values its friendship with the United States. The two leaders also discussed AUKUS, a security partnership aiming for Australia to receive at least three nuclear-powered submarines from the US within 15 years.

Albanese mentioned discussing the Middle East conflict, reiterating Australia's stance that Iran should not possess nuclear weapons and expressing a desire for the conflict's end.