Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says an Australian exemption to tariffs is in the best interest of the US during question time.
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00:00We will always stand up for Australia's national interests, and it is in Australia's national
00:04interests to have free and fair trade.
00:08This government has a strong record, indeed, of working with other nations to protect and
00:13advance Australia's trade interests.
00:16We will navigate any differences which are there diplomatically, and we will continue
00:21to make the case to the United States for Australia to be given an exemption to any
00:27steel and aluminium tariffs.
00:30We have raised with the U.S. Administration in recent ministerial discussions these issues.
00:37Australian steel and aluminium are core input to U.S. supply chains and U.S.-based industry.
00:43Indeed, just this morning I had a meeting with the global CEO of Rio Tinto.
00:50Australian companies have significant investments in U.S. steel industry, creating thousands
00:55of jobs in both the U.S. and in Australia.
00:59We will continue to make the case for Australia's national interests with the U.S. Administration,
01:05and what's more, we regard this as also being in the U.S.'s national interest as well, because
01:12tariffs, of course, don't tax us, they tax the purchases of our products.
01:21That is something that's very clear, and it's also a fact that the U.S. has had a trade
01:27surplus with Australia since the Truman presidency.
01:32I have a discussion with President Trump scheduled, and I will certainly keep the House and the
01:45Australian people informed after that discussion.