Australia's treasurer Jim Chalmers will continue to push for steel and aluminum tariff exemptions this week in a discussion with Treasury Secretary Scott Becent.
Chalmers traveled to Washington on Sunday night for his first in-person meeting with his counterpart since Bessent took over the post, but Chalmers said, “Our established relationships are more than this meeting. “Before,” he said in a statement.
Chalmers told Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) “I don't expect to end the discussion on steel and aluminum while I'm in DC,” but expects tariffs to be the focus of the discussion. .
“Trade and tariffs are part of the conversation, not the entire conversation,” he said in a statement.
In a statement, Chalmers said the meeting came “at a critical time for the global economic outlook.”
“The US-Australia economic partnership offers great benefits to both sides,” he continued. “There's a lot to discuss, from capital markets to important minerals and trade.”
The meeting is coming In the push Due to tariff exemption from the Australian government on Australian steel and aluminum.
This year, President Trump removed the 2018 tariff exemption on steel imports, effectively taxing all steel imports at a minimum of 25%, and increased the 2018 tariff to 25% for aluminum imports as well.
Trump said he agreed to “great consideration” the tariff exemptions on Australian steel and aluminum on February 10 after speaking with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Australia was exempt from tariffs during Trump's first term.
