By MAISY RAE – NEWS REPORTER and AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 22:20 BST, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 23:29 BST, 13 August 2026
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has asked US President Donald Trump to exempt Australia from his new tariffs regime in a phone call overnight.
The two leaders had a 'productive, constructive, lengthy and substantial' conversation in the early hours of Friday morning, Albanese said.
It comes just weeks after Australia was hit with a new 12.5 per cent tariff, after a US Trade Representative alleged Australia had 'inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labour'.
'The ask that I made of the president is that he consider a full exemption or at the very least no increase, which is where we've been subject to the 12.5 percent tariff,' Albanese said on Friday morning.
'We have a different position when it comes to tariffs. Our position as a government is that tariffs and economic imposition are cost on the countries that are imposing them, and we support free and fair trade.
'The President, of course, has a different position that he's expressed many times.'
Albanese said Trump agreed that he would give consideration to his request.
The leaders spoke about a range of issues during their call, including the Iran war, Australia's new alliances across the Asia-Pacific and rising fuel prices.
Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump have spoken on the phone overnight
'We did and continue to say that Iran shouldn't be allowed to have nuclear weapons,' Albanese told reporters.
'We've seen Iran's behavior during this war, where they have not just engaged with the United States and Israel, but have launched attacks on a range of countries in the region, including the UAE.
'I was able to outline to the President as well Australia's contribution, including the E7A aircraft and the other assistance that we've given to the UAE.
'It is having an impact on Australia and indeed on the global economy. The President expressed his confidence going forward.'
