Washington, D.C. – Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to meet with his U.S. counterpart, Scott Bessent, on Tuesday in Washington, as Canberra seeks an exemption from the 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports announced by President Donald Trump last month. The meeting will take place ahead of the second day of an investment summit, where ten of Australia’s top pension funds, controlling A$1.5 trillion ($950.7 billion) in combined assets, will discuss closer economic ties with the U.S.
“Trade and tariffs will be part of the conversation but not the whole conversation,” Chalmers said in a statement regarding his talks with Bessent. “I won’t pre-empt the talks on steel and aluminium, except to say they are ongoing discussions and I don’t expect to conclude them while I’m there.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed confidence earlier this month that a deal could be reached with Trump, citing the “tremendous start” to Australia’s relationship with the new U.S. administration. Australia, a key U.S. security ally in the Indo-Pacific, is a small global exporter of steel but the world’s largest supplier of iron ore, the main raw material for steelmaking.
During his first term, Trump exempted Australia from U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium. Australia has emphasized its position as one of the U.S.’s top 10 foreign investors, largely due to its institutional pensions sector, known as superannuation or super funds.
Chalmers and Bessent will both address the superannuation summit at the Australian embassy in Washington on Tuesday, which will be attended by the country’s largest pension funds, as well as the CEOs of major U.S. banks and governors or members of Congress from five states.
“This landmark super summit is all about stronger returns for Australians from stronger economic ties with the Americans,” Chalmers said.