Albanese government claims vindication after dodging Trump tariff increase

The Age

4 days ago

Washington/Canberra: President Donald Trump has delivered Australia the equal-lowest tariff rate of any country, with its exports to the US to continue to be hit with a 10 per cent impost, prompting the Albanese government to claim its approach had been vindicated.
Trade Minister Don Farrell vowed to continue talks until Australia is allowed to sell goods to the United States with no tariffs, as the opposition accused the government of avoiding increased tariffs on Friday through the economy's structure rather than diplomacy.
After issuing earlier threats to hike the baseline levy to 15 or 20 per cent, Trump issued an executive order on Friday confirming new tariff rates for several trading partners following 'deals' struck with their leaders, as well as revised tariffs for other countries.
Australia received the lowest rate, 10 per cent, when the so-called reciprocal tariffs were announced on April 2. Australia was not named among the changes on Friday (AEST), and a White House fact sheet confirmed any countries not on the new list would remain at 10 per cent, the same as the United Kingdom.
But some countries faced increases: Trump hiked the tariff on goods from New Zealand to 15 per cent.
White House officials indicated the administration was still open to compromise if countries removed trade barriers and came to Trump with a proposed deal. The tariffs are set to take effect in seven days.
Farrell, the trade minister, said Trump's decision vindicated Australia's 'cool and calm' diplomatic approach to the negotiations.
'At no stage did we introduce tariffs on American goods,' Farrell said. 'I haven't seen any case or any example where the retaliatory imposition of tariffs has resulted in a country being in a better position.'