Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party, Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Peace and tranquillity, indeed! My question is to the Prime Minister. Did President Trump inform the Prime Minister that the United States would be imposing tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium prior to the measures being announced? If not, when did the Prime Minister last speak to President Trump?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. As the Australian people know, I will always stand up for them. I will always stand up for Australia's national interests, and it is in Australia's national interests to have a free and fair trade. This government has a strong record, indeed, of working with other nations to protect and advance Australia's trade interests. We will navigate any differences which are there diplomatically, and we will continue to make the case to the United States for Australia to be given an exemption to any steel and aluminium tariffs.

We have raised with the US administration in recent ministerial discussions these issues. Australian steel and aluminium are core imports to US supply chains and US based industry. Indeed, just this morning, I had a meeting with the global CEO of Rio Tinto. Australian companies have significant investment in the US steel industry, creating thousands of jobs in both the US and Australia. We will continue to make the case for Australia's national interests with the US administration. What's more, we regard this as also being in the US's national interests because tariffs, of course, don't tax us; they tax the purchasers of our products. That is something that is very clear. It's also a fact that the US has had a trade surplus with Australia since the Truman presidency. I have a discussion with President Trump scheduled, and I will certainly keep the House and the Australian people informed after that discussion.