Democratic congressman Joe Courtney lashed the tariff over the impact it would have on Australia.
He referenced the $798 million Australia sent to the US on the weekend in exchange for nuclear-powered submarines.
“The first cheque was delivered on Friday … and two days later what do we see? A 25 per cent tariff on steel and all products coming from Australia into the US.
“What we’re seeing is a completely needless, almost insult, to the people of Australia.”
Courtney is a powerful member of the Congress Armed Services Committee and a long-time advocate of the AUKUS deal.
His district in Connecticut is home to the shipyards where the Virginia-class submarines will be built.
Trump is considering an Australian exemption to his incoming steel and aluminium after a conversation with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Speaking in Canberra this morning, Albanese said he and the president had a “very constructive and warm discussion”.
Albanese and Trump agreed an exemption would be “under consideration”.
“The US has a trade surplus with Australia, that it’s had since the Truman administration,” Albanese said.
“It’s about two to one when it comes to trade between our two countries.”
Australia exports half a billion dollars worth of aluminium to the US each year.
Iron and steel exports to the US were worth about $600 million last year.
Perhaps more harmful to the Australian economy are the indirect impact on other countries’ steel production.
Iron ore is Australia’s largest export, and much steel around the world is made from it.
But CEO of the Australian Industry Group Innes Willox was reasonably confident of an exemption to Trump’s 25 per cent tax.
“We’re a big trading partner with the United States,” Willox told Today.
“We have a huge security relationship with the United States.
“We have a free trade relationship with the United States.
“All of this puts us on solid footing to get exempted here.
“But we’re dealing with the new President Trump.”
Albanese’s phone call with Trump will be the first time they have spoken in three months.
