Australia’s foreign minister is making the case for an exemption from US tariffs in crucial talks with her American counterparts.
Penny Wong has a one-on-one meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday morning, Australian time, as negotiations continue in Australia’s hope of removing the economic measures.
The face-to-face discussions with Mr Rubio take place in Washington on the sidelines of a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which also includes Senator Wong’s counterparts from India and Japan.
It’s the second time in six months foreign ministers from Quad nations have met for in-person talks, with the grouping also holding formal discussions in Washington in the days following US President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Defence, trade and stability in the Indo-Pacific have been high on the agenda during the discussions.
“The United States is our closest ally and principal strategic partner,” Senator Wong said in a statement.
“Our alliance contributes to the peace, prosperity and stability of our countries and the region we share.”
The meeting comes against a backdrop of tariffs due to apply to US trading partners from July 9.
Mr Trump’s administration has imposed the baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all Australian goods imported into the US, while a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium has also been ordered.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been under pressure from the federal opposition to secure an in-person meeting with the president to argue for tariff removals.
The two leaders were due to speak on the sidelines of the G7 session held in June in Canada, but the meeting was scrapped at the eleventh hour when Mr Trump left the summit early due to instability in the Middle East.
A replacement meeting is yet to be scheduled.