United States President Donald Trump is open to exempting Australia from his newly reinstated steel and aluminium tariffs, citing the country's trade surplus with the United States.
Following a phone call with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Trump acknowledged that Australia is one of the few nations with which the United States maintains a trade surplus, largely due to aircraft purchases.
His administration had recently revoked tariff exemptions, triggering concerns over potential trade conflicts. While Albanese remains optimistic about securing a deal, Australia's Aluminium Council is still assessing the potential fallout. For now, it remains to be seen how the negotiations will unfold.