Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday, after failing to secure an exemption from the US tariffs on his country’s steel and aluminum exports, that the tariffs, which just took effect, are “completely unjustified.”

After the White House dashed Australia’s hopes that its steel and aluminum exports to the United States would receive an exemption from the 25% tariffs, Albanese told reporters, “This is not a friendly act.”

He added, “It’s absolutely clear that this is not a positive step in our relationship. It’s as simple as that.”

On February 10, US President Donald Trump signed two executive orders imposing 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports from all countries, effective March 12, “without exceptions or exemptions.”

On Wednesday, Albanese considered Trump’s decision to target Australia, a close ally of the United States, “contrary to the spirit of the deep-rooted friendship between our two countries.”

He continued, “Friends must act in a way that reinforces, to our people, the fact that we are friends.”

However, the Australian Prime Minister stressed that his country would not respond to the US action in kind, as such a retaliatory move would also harm the Australian economy and lead to “slower growth and higher inflation.”