Albanese urges Trump to spare Australia from tariffs
SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday he had asked US President Donald Trump in a phone call for an exemption from tariffs slapped on his country last month.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese requested US President Donald Trump to exempt Australia from tariffs imposed last month, according to a conversation on Friday. The tariffs, amounting to 12.5 percent, were imposed on Australia and 59 other countries due to alleged forced labor concerns. In a "warm and productive" conversation, the US president agreed to consider exempting Australia from the tariff.
Albanese emphasized that Australia's relationship as a friend of the United States should be taken into account during this review. The Prime Minister reiterated that Australia supports free and fair trade, viewing tariffs as an economic imposition and cost on the imposing countries. The leaders also discussed progress in AUKUS, a deal under which Australia is expected to receive at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines from the United States within 15 years.
Albanese spoke about the ongoing war in the Middle East, reiterating Australia's stance that Iran should not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
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