Trade talks rest on Anthony Albanese's meeting with Donald Trump in Canada
Australia's case for exemptions or relief from American tariffs will rest on Anthony Albanese's meeting next week with US President Donald Trump.
Trade Minister Don Farrell had two conversations with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of OECD and World Trade Organisation meetings in Paris last week to press Australia's case, but says it's clear the leaders need to make the final call.
Ministers and officials at all levels have consistently been arguing the US shouldn't impose tariffs on Australia because it has a trade surplus here, selling more to Australians than it buys each year.
The Trump administration has so far imposed hefty tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, which have just risen to 50 per cent, and also slugged Australia with a 10 per cent so-called reciprocal tariff despite Australia not having tariffs on any US goods.
Mr Albanese and Senator Farrell have repeatedly said the imposts are not the actions of a friend.
Nevertheless, Senator Farrell said he'd had a 'friendly discussion' with Mr Greer but the final decision would be made at a higher level.
'He certainly made it clear that these are ultimately decisions that the President of the United States will make,' the minister told Sky News on Sunday.
'But I certainly haven't given up on the prospect of getting these tariffs removed, and every opportunity I get, I'll continue to pursue that argument with the United States.'
Mr Albanese has flagged he expects to meet Mr Trump for the first time on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Canada next weekend.
The Government is in the final stages of a review of the rules around American beef imports, with Trump administration figures repeatedly raising Australia's 'ban' on US meat as one of their trade gripes.
Australia has biosecurity restrictions on the import of Canadian and Mexican beef that is slaughtered in the US and Mr Albanese has insisted his Government will not risk the safety of local agriculture by relaxing rules.
The UK has secured exemptions from some of the US tariffs by striking a new deal that in part allows greater market access for American beef.
Shadow finance minister James Paterson pointed to the UK deal as a measure of the success of Mr Albanese's imminent meeting with Mr Trump.
'(UK Prime Minister) Keir Starmer has now achieved a partial exemption from the steel and aluminium tariffs, and Australia is at least as good an ally of the United States as the United Kingdom is and so there's no reason why the Prime Minister shouldn't at least be able to secure that exemption,' Senator Paterson told ABC's Insiders.
'I'm just saying that Keir Starmer proves that it is possible to get an exemption. It is not an impossible task.'
Senator Farrell said the main topic of discussions with counterparts at the WTO and OECD was ensuring other countries didn't increase their protectionism in the face of the US moves.
He pointed out Australia hadn't his China with counter-imposts when it imposed trade barriers on goods such as wine, barley and lobster, and nor had it retaliate against the US.
'I think there's a move around the world to push the case for less protectionism and more free and fair trade,' he said.
'I'm hopeful that those countries around the world who do believe in free and fair trade can reach agreement to extend free trade agreements across the globe so that, irrespective of what the Americans might choose to do, we have a greater diversity of trading partners.'
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