CANBERRA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has said it is making the case for an exemption from U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Don Farrell, the Australian minister for trade and tourism, said on Monday that the federal government is already working on keeping trade with the United States open and free.

"We have consistently made the case for free and fair trade, including access into the U.S. market for Australian steel and aluminum," Farrell said in a statement.

He said that Australian steel and aluminum create thousands of "good paying" jobs in the United States and are key for shared defense interests.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he plans to officially announce 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. on Monday.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the federal parliament in Canberra on Monday local time that he has scheduled a "discussion" about the new tariffs with Trump.

Australia exported 223,000 tonnes of steel and 83,000 tonnes of aluminum to the United States in 2024, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The former government of PM Malcolm Turnbull in 2018 successfully negotiated an exemption from Trump's first-term steel and aluminum tariffs. Enditem

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