Australia is suffering from at least 10% tariffs on all exports to the US, as Donald Trump announced his new, drastic global trading regime.
Trump cited “trade barriers” such as Australia’s biosecurity laws — banning the import of US beef — as a reason for what he called “mutual tariffs.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the measure “completely unfair,” but said the country would not introduce its own tariff, also known as import taxes, in return.
The 10% dealt with Australia was a “baseline” measure with the most serious tariffs in countries that hit countries such as China, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia.
“President Trump has mentioned mutual tariffs. Mutual tariffs will be zero rather than 10%,” Albanese said at a press conference Thursday.
“The administration’s tariffs are unfounded and violate the basis of our partnerships in the two countries. This is not an act of a friend,” he added.
Trump’s new trade policy has reached the start of Australia’s close-fighting election campaign. There, the cost of living becomes an important issue of voting.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton said tariffs would be a “bad day” for Australia and a “significant falsehood” for employment across the country.
He also said the new tariffs reflect Albanese’s relationship with Trump – the prime minister had not tried to organize a call ahead of the decision.
MA/PR