Labor maintains ‘pathway’ to Australian steel | Australian Markets

New Employment and Industrial Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth has maintained there may be a “pathway” for Australia to get hold of an exemption from Donald Trump’s upped tariffs on imported steel, with Anthony Albanese set to meet the US President in a weeks.

Her feedback come after Mr Trump blindsided world leaders be asserting he could be doubling the levees on imported steel to 50 per cent so as to “further secure the steel industry in the United States”.

This is as well as to the 25 per cent on aluminium tariffs, plus a blanket 10 per cent levee on Australian items.

Speaking on Sky, Ms Rishworth stated the federal government will “throw everything” on the negotiations, and stated they had been “unjustifiable moves” and never what you’d anticipate from a “friend and an ally”.

“We have, of course, continued to work through this and be in contact with those Americans in the administration to work through in a methodical and consistent way. And we’ll continue to put forward that these tariffs should be removed from Australian steel, and we’ll continue to do that and put forward our national industries.”

However she stated she believed Australia would give you the chance to secure an exemption.

“What we see is a pathway forward, which is to not apply these tariffs to Australian steel,” she stated.

“I don’t need to remind you … that America imports a lot more source sends a lot more stuff to Australia than we send to America, but we have a very had, have always had a very close relationship with America, and we expect to continue to work through this issue and put forward our consistent position.”

The Prime Minister can be set to communicate to Mr Trump for the primary time after securing a second time period of authorities, with each leaders set to attend the G7 in Canada from June 15 to 17.

It’s anticipated the pair will communicate on the sidelines of the summit.

Mr Albanese has additionally stated that he’s formally invited Mr Trump to go to Australia.

While Mr Albanese has but to touch upon the elevated tariffs, Trade Minister Don Farrell maintained on Saturday that the levees had been an “act of economic self harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade”.

“Australia’s position has been consistent and clear,” Senator Farrell stated on Saturday.

“We will continue to engage and advocate strongly for the removal of the tariffs. It is unjustified, and it’s not what you do to a friend and an ally.”

Newly minted Coalition finance spokesman James Paterson additionally instructed Sky on Sunday that that it was a “deeply disappointing decision” from the US authorities and stated Mr Albanese had to “robustly stand up for Australia’s national interest”.

However Senator Paterson is was “unfortunate” that Mr Albanese and Mr Trump’s first assembly shall be on the G7, eight months after Mr Trump’s re-election in November.

“It has taken an inordinately long period of time for him to go over there and have that meeting, so we can have that face-to-face opportunity to build a personal rapport, to advocate for our interests,” he stated.