As the 90-day temporary suspension period comes to an end, the Australian government is still seeking an exemption, but for now, there appears to be no exception in sight.
Speaking at an economic forum held in Sydney on July 4, Albanese stated, “On July 9, these tariffs won’t directly affect us, because they’re related to countries with higher rate levels.” However, he emphasized that the 10% tariff currently stands as the base rate for all countries, “No country is currently subject to a lower rate,” Albanese added.
The new tariff program, referred to by the Trump administration as “Liberation Day”, is already having an impact, particularly on steel and aluminum exports, where duties have reportedly been raised from 25% to 50%. The Prime Minister acknowledged a “slight decline” in exports of these materials.
Although a planned meeting with Trump at the upcoming G7 summit has been canceled, Albanese noted there will still be opportunities to engage through other international forums later this year. He also criticized the U.S. administration’s protectionist trade policies, calling them a form of “economic self-harm.”
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