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The Australian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Australian
Donald Trump flags baseline tariff hike
Donald Trump has flagged the US could double the baseline tariff on foreign imports to 20 per cent. Australia is captured by the baseline tariff regime, with a blanket 10 per cent impost slapped on most products flowing to the US despite a bilateral free-trade agreement. The baseline tariff is imposed on top of sectoral duties – taxes targeting specific industries, such as steel and aluminium. The US President floated his new tariff for 'the rest of the world' while speaking to reporters with Keir Starmer in Scotland overnight. 'I would say it'll be somewhere in the 15 to 20 per cent range,' Mr Trump said when pressed for a figure. 'Probably one of those two numbers. 'We're going to be setting a tariff for, essentially, the rest of the world. 'That's what they're going to pay if they want to do business in the United States, because you can't sit down and make 200 deals.' To get all the latest news from US President Donald Trump and what it means for Australia as soon as it drops — download the app. US President Donald Trump says he could double the baseline tariff on foreign goods. Picture: Christopher Furlong / Pool / AFP The Albanese government has responded, with a spokesperson for Trade Minister Don Farrell saying Australia would continue push for an Australian carve out. 'Any tariffs on Australian goods are unjustified and an act of economic self-harm,' the spokesperson said. 'We will continue to engage at all levels to advocate for the removal of all tariffs, in line with our free trade agreement with the United States.' Assistant Treasurer Dan Mulino expanded a little, downplaying Mr Trump's comments as 'off-the-cuff'. 'We are a country that relies on trade,' he told Sky News. 'We are a country with a very high proportion of jobs that rely on trade. 'That remains the position of this government. 'So, we would rather a situation in which the world doesn't go down the path of imposing tariffs. 'But what I can say is that Australia remains in a situation where we've got as good a deal as anybody, and we continue to engage with the US Government intensely on these matters.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is again being urged to tee-up a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Picture: Martin Ollman / NewsWire Meanwhile, opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan slammed Mr Trump's idea as 'really bad for global growth', warning it could 'encourage retaliation from other countries, and we certainly don't want to see a global trade war between, say, China and the US'. 'We're a huge exporting nation. Tariffs are bad policy,' he said. 'We, as the opposition, disagree with Trump's tariff policy, but again, it reinforces the urgency and the great disappointment that our prime minister hasn't had a face-to-face meeting with Trump. 'He needs to go over there and prosecute the case, to argue Australia's case, but also to stand up for free trade across the globe, because the importance of it for us as a trading nation, as Australia.' Australia's biggest export to the US is beef, which was worth $5.7bn in 2024, according to Meat and Livestock Australia. Read related topics: Donald Trump
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
‘Dog's breakfast': Karl pans US beef deal
A trade deal to accept US beef into Australia has been labelled a dog's breakfast by Karl Stefanovic after the Trade Minister's apparent gaffe claiming Donald Trump personally lobbied for the deal. Trade Minister Don Farrell on Sunday said the US President raised the issue directly with Anthony Albanese in one of the three phone conversations the leaders shared. The Prime Minister said that was incorrect, and on Tuesday Stefanovic put criticism of the beef deal to Labor frontbencher Amanda Rishworth. Senator Don Farrell admitted to making a mistake when he said Donald Trump had raised the issue of beef with Anthony Albanese. Jason Edwards / NewsWire Credit: NewsWire 'I think he has clarified his comments,' Ms Rishworth said of Senator Farrell. 'We've discussed it on this show, that Donald Trump made public his issues around beef imports and exports. That was not a secret. 'I think this is making a mountain out of a molehill. Quite frankly, just silly politics on the side. 'What's important here is putting forward our best foot forward, for the national interest, to be prosecuting our case with the US, and that's what our government will keep doing.' Stefanovic suggested the US beef deal had become a shambles and asked senator David Pocock what needed to happen. Amanda Rishworth defended her colleague, Trade Minister Don Farrell. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'David, do you think there should be an inquiry? I mean, it's starting to look more and more like a dog's breakfast,' Stefanovic said. 'I think there's real questions to answer around the timing of this,' the senator replied. 'And on the bigger issue, who's going to buy American beef? We have some of the best beef in the world here in Australia. I certainly won't be buying US beef. 'I think a lot of Australians will see it on the shelf, if it even gets here, and say 'well, I'm going to support Australia'.' The Coalition has already called for an inquiry into the beef deal, arguing the government has put biosecurity at risk as a bargaining chip for a US tariff exemption. The Coalition wants a Senate inquiry into the government backflip, citing the timing of the decision amid stalled tariff negotiations. Labor has rejected claims of the link to ongoing tariff discussions, saying the decision follows a lengthy review undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which found new tracing protocols eliminated risks posed by beef sourced from Canada and Mexico but slaughtered in the US. However, Nationals Leader David Littleproud said an inquiry was required to give 'assurance' that 'Labor isn't sacrificing our high biosecurity standards'. As of Monday, July 28, Australian businesses were able to apply for import licences to get US fresh beef and beef products.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Australia politics live: Albanese faces stiff test in US trade talks; Victoria brings tougher bail laws to parliament
Update: Date: 2025-07-28T20:33:00.000Z Title: EU deal means Australia unlikely to secure US tariff exemption, experts say Content: Australia's hopes for a total tariff exemption are dwindling as Donald Trump's deals with other nations lay bare the limits of trade negotiations, Australian Associated Press reports. Since pushing his tariff deadline to 1 August, the US president has struck trade agreements with Japan, and overnight, the European Union – much to the disgust of French ministers who think the EU has caved in to Trump. While the deals landed on tariffs lower than Mr Trump's initial threats, both were higher than the 10% baseline levy imposed on Australian goods. No US trading partner has managed to completely dodge tariffs on their items. So it seems unlikely that Anthony Albanese and his trade minister, Don Farrell, can negotiate their way out of any tariffs at all. 'Trump really does see tariffs as something that is good in themselves,' University of Sydney US politics expert David Smith told AAP. 'Even though there were a lot of hopes at the beginning of this process that countries could negotiate their way out of tariffs altogether – that's not really happening.' Australia, like other nations, might instead have to pivot approaches and try to strategically position its industries within these deals. Update: Date: 2025-07-28T20:26:52.000Z Title: Welcome Content: Good morning and welcome to our live politics blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it'll be Krishani Dhanji with the main action. Anthony Albanese could find it hard to negotiate a tariff-free trade deal with the US after the European Union became the latest American trading partner to settle for higher tariffs on exports to the world's biggest market. One expert warns today that it's looking increasingly unlikely that Labor will cut a tariff-free deal. More coming up. Four banks will refund charges to low-income customers after the financial regulator found that a much higher number of Australians were paying too much than originally thought. More on that shortly. And Labor is going to introduce new bail laws to the Victorian parliament which it says are the 'toughest' in the country, despite opposition from legal, First Nations and human rights groups. More on that too, in a few minutes.
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
‘Hallucinating': Opposition slams Labor over ‘inventing' US beef ban talks
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has called out Trade Minister Don Farrell for suggesting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump had discussed Australia's ban on US beef imports. 'Australians rely on the government to confidently and competently advocate for our national interest,' Ms Ley said during Question Time on Monday. 'Yesterday, the trade minister seemed to be hallucinating on national TV when he invented a conversation between the US President and the prime minister about beef. 'How can Labor be trusted to secure tariff exemptions when the trade minister confuses a public statement from the president with a leader-to-leader phone call that never happened?'
9 News
3 days ago
- Business
- 9 News
Government gives $10m to jobseeker platform for struggling sectors
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here The federal government has funnelled $10 million into a jobseeker platform designed to help Australia's hospitality, travel and tourism sectors hire and retain staff. Workforce demand in the three industries, which already employs 706,000 Australians, is forecast to skyrocket by 150,000 people by 2033, according to government research. In response, the government has launched eeger – an online platform which will advertise job vacancies, offer training programs and promote career development. Th federal government has launched a career platform called eeger. (Supplied) It's hoped eeger will support employers, workers and jobseekers at places like hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafes, tourism and cultural centres, where critical staff shortages are hurting business. The platform was created with a $10 million grant from the federal government to help "strengthen the country's visitor economy and secure the skilled workforce it needs for the future". "The launch of eeger marks a pivotal moment for the industry, offering a national perspective for tourism, travel and hospitality job seekers to find the right opportunities and for employers to access the skilled workforce they need," said Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell. "The Albanese Labor Government is proud to support this innovative platform, which will help rebuild and future-proof Australia's visitor economy. "My first job was in tourism, and I know firsthand how magnificent this industry is to be a part of. I encourage businesses and jobseekers to sign up and make the most of this innovative platform and join this vibrant and important sector." It's hoped eeger will support employers, workers and jobseekers at places like hotels, restaurants, pubs and cafes. (Getty) Emilie Howe, the new general manager of eeger, said the free platform is the first of its kind on a national scale. "eeger is more than a job platform – it's built by industry, for industry," Howe said. "We encourage all businesses in tourism, hospitality and travel, no matter the size, to sign up and take advantage of the free eeger platform." The federal government built eeger alongside Accomodation Australia. "We're proud to have worked with so many sectors to develop such an innovative platform that responds exactly to what the industry needs," said Accomodation Australia chief executive James Goodwin. federal politics workplace work Australia national government Politics CONTACT US
