Trump, Who Said "No Exceptions," Considers Steel and Aluminum Tariff Exemptions for Australia

"One of the Few U.S. Trade Surplus Countries... Buys Many Airplanes"
After Phone Call with Australian Prime Minister Albanese, Says "Very Nice Person"

President Donald Trump announced that he would impose a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum, but is considering tariff exemptions for Australian steel and aluminum.

According to the British daily The Guardian, on the 10th (local time), after a phone call with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, President Trump told reporters at the White House that he is considering tariff exemptions for Australian steel and aluminum.

Donald Trump, President of the United States. Photo by UPI Yonhap News

President Trump said that Australia is one of the few countries with which the U.S. has a trade surplus, "because Australia buys a lot of (American) airplanes. Australia is quite far away and needs many airplanes." He added, "I told Prime Minister Albanese that we would take this into great consideration." He also described Albanese as a "very nice person."

On the same day, President Trump officially announced that a 25% tariff would be imposed on all steel and aluminum products imported into the U.S., emphasizing that there would be no exceptions or exemptions.

However, Australia later stated that it is considering tariff exemptions, suggesting that Australia could be an exception. Bloomberg News analyzed that President Trump’s praise of Australia’s purchase of American aircraft indicates that Australia might be considered for exemption.

During Trump’s first administration in 2018, tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum were imposed, but Australia negotiated with the U.S. at that time and was exempted from the tariffs.

Prime Minister Albanese, in a press conference after the call with President Trump, said, "We requested an exemption for Australia regarding the (steel and aluminum tariffs)," and added, "We agreed to publicly announce that President Trump agreed to consider the exemption for the benefit of both countries."

Although Albanese did not disclose specific details such as the exemption schedule or the process of considering the exemption, he said, "We had a very constructive and warm discussion with President Trump," expressing confidence that an agreement could be reached. He also added that U.S. exports to Australia are about twice the amount of imports.