# Anthony Albanese denounces US tariffs as ‘not a friendly act’ after Donald Trump refuses exemption for Australia



**Australian economy**

**Anthony Albanese denounces US tariffs as ‘not a friendly act’ after Donald Trump refuses exemption for Australia**

**Global 25% levy regime on steel and aluminium imports due to come into effect at midnight US time**

— By Ben Doherty and Josh Butler

Donald Trump’s decision to slap tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium is “entirely unjustified” and “not a friendly act”, Anthony Albanese says, after the Labor government failed to receive the exemption the US president .

The Australian prime minister said his government would continue pushing for an exemption to the 25% tariffs, calling the trade barriers favoured by Trump “a form of economic self-harm”, in his strongest criticism of the American president since he returned to office.

“It is disappointing. 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. This is not a friendly act,” he said.

“It but is imposed on every country, that is important.”

Albanese was asked if Australia should have proposed “a deal” to Trump to avoid the trade barriers; the prime minister claimed Australian officials had put forward “a range of propositions” to the US which were not successful, but would not elaborate.

He said Australia would not impose reciprocal tariffs on America, as other nations have done, but that the upcoming federal budget would contain new funding for a “Buy Australian” campaign to promote local products, and that government officials would continue pushing for a deal even after the tariffs come into force.

“Our government will continue to put forward a very strong case for an exemption, noting that the last time this occurred it took months for that exemption to be granted … Australia will work hard for a different outcome and discussions with the Trump administration are ongoing,” he said.

“Tariffs and escalating trade tensions are a form of economic self-harm and a recipe for slower growth and higher inflation. They are paid by the consumers. This is why Australia will not be imposing reciprocal tariffs on the United States. Such a course of action would only push up prices for Australian consumers and increase inflation.”

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