Australian PM to Press Trump Over New U.S. Tariffs

ABC News

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that he would raise the issue of newly imposed U.S. tariffs with President Donald Trump after Washington introduced fresh trade measures affecting Australia and dozens of other trading partners.

On Friday, the United States imposed new tariffs on goods imported from 60 trading partners, alleging that the countries concerned had failed to prevent the trade in products made using forced labour. The measures came as a temporary 10% global tariff expired.

The Australian government, led by Albanese's Labor Party, has criticised the tariffs as unjustified and is seeking their removal.

Asked on Sunday whether he intended to discuss the matter directly with President Trump, Albanese replied: "Absolutely."

"We'll raise it at every level in the Australia-U.S. relationship, we've already done so," he said in televised remarks.

Under the new measures introduced by the Trump administration, imports from Australia, along with those from 37 other countries, are now subject to a 12.5% tariff. A further 17 countries face a 10% tariff, while five others are subject to varying tariff rates.

Albanese, who has consistently advocated for "free and fair trade" with the United States, made the tariffs a central issue during a telephone conversation with President Trump following his centre-left Labor government's landslide re-election victory last year.




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