Labor ‘advocating very forcefully’ for tariff carve out as deadline looms

Richard Marles says the Albanese government is “advocating very forcefully” for an Australian exemption from US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports days before they are set to kick in.

Donald Trump caught Canberra off-guard when he announced he would slap levies of 25 per cent “without exemptions or exceptions” despite telling Anthony Albanese an Australian carve out was “under consideration”.

Since then, both the Albanese government and the Coalition have found themselves increasingly at odds with the new administration on key foreign policy issues, including global trade.

The Deputy Prime Minister said on Monday an Australian exemption “makes sense”.

“We’ve been advocating very forcefully to the Trump administration about why it makes sense for there to be a carve out for Australian steel and aluminium, Australian exports in general,” Mr Marles told Sky News.

“Our two‑way trade with the United States is trade which is very much in the United States’ favour.

“It makes sense that all of this is tariff free. And indeed, to the extent that we do provide exports to the United States, that’s supporting US jobs.

“Now that’s an argument that we’ve been making with the US administration.”

Mr Marles is one of the very few Labor cabinet ministers to visit Washington to meet with his new counterparts, making him central to relationship building with the new White House.

He said the Albanese government had “been getting a good hearing” but conceded it was unclear.

Many Canadians have decided to hit the US where it hurts by turning their backs on American products in its supermarkets.

“We’ll see where it lands,” Mr Marles said.

“But you can be assured that this government will leave no stone unturned in terms of pursuing the case on behalf of Australia.”

The tariffs are set to kick in on Thursday (AEDT).