The Trump administration has defended its decision to impose a 10 per cent tariff on Australian imports, citing alleged bans on American beef and pork.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the United States “should be running up the score on Australia” due to these restrictions.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticised the tariff as an “act of economic self-harm,” emphasising that the US has maintained a trade surplus with Australia since the Truman presidency.
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According to the ABC, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry confirmed there is no ban on importing US beef. However, Australia has restricted fresh US beef imports since 2003 over concerns about mad cow disease.
The Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), effective since 2005, grants Australian companies access to US federal and state government procurement markets. Under AUSFTA, over two-thirds of Australia’s agricultural exports to the US are duty-free, along with more than 97 per cent of non-agricultural exports.
Mr. Greer indicated that the administration does not intend to offer exemptions to the tariffs, aiming to address trade deficits and achieve reciprocity.
In a related development, President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 104 per cent tariff on Chinese goods if Beijing does not withdraw its 34 per cent levy on American products. China has vowed to “fight to the end” against the US tariffs.
The escalating trade tensions have raised concerns about potential impacts on global markets and economies. The Australian government is particularly worried about the broader economic implications of the US’s sweeping tariffs.
Prime Minister Albanese has announced a five-point plan to respond to the US tariffs, emphasizing the need to protect Australia’s economic interests.