Australia has failed to secure an exemption from US steel and aluminium tariffs despite an extensive lobbying campaign by Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese's government.

White House spokesman Kush Desai confirmed in a statement that the planned levies would come into effect from midnight on March 12, with no exemptions for any US trading partners.

Albanese told reporters after the announcement that the Trump administration's actions were "entirely unjustified" and an act of "economic self-harm" on the part of the US. But, he added, Australia would not take any reciprocal measures.

"This is against the spirit of our two nations' enduring friendship and fundamentally at odds with the benefits that our economic partnership has delivered over more than 70 years," Albanese said on March 12 in Sydney. Australia will continue to advocate for an exemption, he added.

President Donald Trump had told the Australian PM during talks by telephone last month that he would consider an exemption. Albanese, who must hold an election by May 17, had been under intense pressure from local lawmakers and executives to secure a carve out for Australia's exports.

Albanese said after the announcement that he would be working with the steel and aluminium industries to diversify their exports, encouraging citizens to buy domestically-produced products.