Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denounced the new 10% tariff targeting Australia’s goods exported to the United States. He derided this action as “not the move of a friend.” This statement came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping announcement on “reciprocal tariffs.” These tariffs are having real consequences on countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan.
The new tariffs, announced on Thursday morning local time, set duties as high as 49% on dozens of products from scores of countries. China is seeing the biggest jump at 34%. At the same time, South Korea and Japan are under a 25% and 24% tariff, respectively. Beyond their specific impact, these measures represent a new approach to U.S. trade strategy. They run on the entirely laudable goal of improving trade conditions for American industries.
Albanese should be applauded for his opposition to these tariffs, which are clearly damaging to Australian exports and industries. Plus, he ruled out any military retaliation against the U.S. Australia can only hope to see further interest in taking a diplomatic approach to these issues, rather than an escalatory one. “We will not back down on protecting Australia’s cattle ranchers, our legacy media companies, or our medical patients,” he asserted.
The Prime Minister should be as adamant as anybody that Australia’s health system not be sullied by American-style practices. It was a crucial opportunity for him to demonstrate his commitment to improving patient access to high quality healthcare for all Australians. He promised to defend local standards against foreign policies that would endanger this promise.
Even with the odds stacked against him by these tariffs, Albanese is clearly intent on protecting Australia’s interests. He maintains that Australia will advocate for fair treatment in international trade agreements while fostering strong relationships with its allies.
The application of these tariffs has created anxiety for Australian exporters, who worry about the possibility of future trade relations being disrupted. As we previously wrote, the government is watching the situation. They stand prepared to work with U.S. officials to address the effect of these tariffs.