Donald Trump has resisted pressure to increase tariffs on n goods in a ‘vindication’ of the federal government’s diplomatic efforts, the trade minister says.
While many new tariffs unveiled by the US president increase levies on products from America’s trading partners, most n exports have been spared but will continue to incur a 10 per cent baseline tariff.
Some in America had pushed Mr Trump to lift tariffs on n goods, but Trade Minister Don Farrell said the president resisted the calls.
‘There had been some pressure in the American system for an increase, but President Trump had decided to maintain that 10 per cent,’ he told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.
‘This is a vindication for the Albanese government and particularly the prime minister, in the cool and calm way that we have conducted diplomacy with the United States.
‘This decision by the United States government is a very positive one for our relationship.’
There had been speculation that n goods would be hit with a higher levy, given Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has so far failed to secure a face-to-face meeting with the president and after Mr Trump on Tuesday said he was planning a new tariff ‘for the world’ in the 15-20 per cent range.
will keep pushing for a full exemption from the US tariffs, with Senator Farrell inviting US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to continue discussions.
But it’s unclear if the government will be successful.
No US trading partner has managed to totally dodge the tariffs, and the 10 per cent rate is the lowest most can hope for.
‘I’m hopeful that this is the end of the matter now, and that the American government maintains that 10 per cent, and that our producers, our winemakers, can get back to a normal relationship with the United States where we don’t have to worry about changes in tariff rates,’ Senator Farrell said.
The Trump administration has released details of country-specific tariff rates for dozens of nations, hours before the passing of its self-imposed August 1 deadline.
New Zealand goods will be subject to a greater 15 per cent tariff, as will exports from Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
More punitive rates have been imposed on products from several major US trading partners including Canada and India, with the new tariffs due to come into effect on August 7.
In a statement, the White House said tariffs were increased on countries that failed to engage in negotiations with the US or take adequate steps to ‘align sufficiently on economic and national security matters’.
The Albanese government recently wound back biosecurity restrictions on US beef imports, although ministers insist the move was a coincidence and not in response to the tariffs.
The US has complained to about non-tariff trade barriers including longstanding restrictions on beef following a prior outbreak of mad cow disease, and the federal government’s decision to lift restrictions on US beef imports was hailed as a victory by Mr Trump.
The US president has struck trade agreements with major partners such as Japan and the European Union after threatening them with punitive tariffs.
has yet to sign a formal trade deal with the US following the introduction of the tariffs.