Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Sunday that he will raise Australia's objections to newly imposed U.S. tariffs directly with President Donald Trump, describing the measures as unjustified despite Canberra's robust efforts to combat forced labor.
The comments came after the United States announced on Friday a new round of tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners, arguing that the affected countries had failed to take sufficient action to curb trade in goods produced through forced labor.
Albanese's governing Labor Party rejected the tariffs, calling them unwarranted and reaffirming the government's commitment to securing their removal.
"Certainly," Albanese said when asked whether he intended to discuss the issue with Trump, adding that his government would raise the matter "at every level" of the bilateral relationship.
The Australian prime minister stressed that Australia already has strong legislation to combat modern slavery and is strengthening its framework through tighter oversight of supply chains and tougher penalties for companies that violate the rules.
Under the new U.S. measures, imports from Australia and 37 other countries will be subject to a 12.5% tariff, while 17 countries face a 10% duty. A further five countries will be subject to a mixed tariff regime based on the new policy framework.
Albanese has previously identified expanding free and fair trade with the United States as a key priority, making the tariff issue a central topic during his discussions with Trump following the U.S. president's return to office.
Follow the latest news on Google News
