logo
Albo urged to go hard on Trump

Albo urged to go hard on Trump

Perth Now5 hours ago

Anthony Albanese should play hardball with the US on beef as tariff talks grind on, Nationals leader David Littleproud says.
American beef imports have emerged as a key negotiating item in the Albanese government's efforts to secure a tariff carve out.
The Trump administration has been pushing for Australia to loosen import rules to include beef from cattle originating in Canada and Mexico but slaughtered in the US.
The Prime Minister has confirmed biosecurity officials were reviewing the request but vowed his government would not 'compromise' Australia's strict bio laws.
But the prospect of changing laws has sparked unease among cattle farmers worried about keeping bovine diseases well away from the country's shores.
With beef imports seemingly key to securing a US tariff exemption, Mr Littleproud on Monday said there needed to be some 'perspective'. Nationals leader David Littleproud says the US needs Australian beef. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
'The United States does need Australia and other countries to import beef to be able to put on their hamburgers,' he told Sky News.
'They don't have the production capacity to be able to produce the type of beef that goes on their hamburgers.
'So this is a tax on themselves that they put on Australian beef.'
Despite being subject to the blanket 10 per cent tariffs on foreign imports, Australian beef into the US has risen by 32 per cent this year, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.
Meanwhile, the cost of domestically produced beef within the US has been climbing, as cattle farmers struggle with drought.
Mr Littleproud said the Nationals were not against importing American beef provided that it was from cattle 'born in the United States and bred all the way through to their slaughter in the United States'. Australian beef exports to the US have climbed this year despite US tariffs. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia
But beef from cattle originating in third countries was a risk because 'we don't have the traceability that we have over the US production system'.
'And that's why Anthony Albanese needed to rule out straight away that he would not open that up to those cattle that were born in Canada, Mexico, or anywhere else in the Americas, because that poses a significant risk unless we can trace those cattle,' Mr Littleproud said.
Mr Albanese has been clear in saying he would 'never loosen any rules regarding our biosecurity'.
But he has also said that if a deal can be struck 'in a way that protects our biosecurity, of course we don't just say no'.
Mr Littleproud acknowledged Mr Albanese's words but said 'when you see reports from departments saying this is what's on the table in terms of negotiations – where there's smoke, there's fire'. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his government will not 'compromise' Australia's biosecurity laws for a US tariff carve out. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
In addition to the baseline 10 per cent duties on foreign goods, Australia has also been subjected to 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium.
Only the UK has been able to secure a partial exemption from the Donald Trump's tariffs.
A key UK concession was scrapping its 20 per cent imposts on American beef and raising the import quota to 13,000 metric tonnes.
But with many British goods still subject to tariffs, analysts have questioned whether the deal was worth it.
The US has trade surpluses with both the UK and Australia.
Though, Australia also has a free-trade agreement with the US, meaning goods should be traded mostly uninhibited.
The Albanese government has repeatedly criticised Mr Trump's decision to slap tariffs on Australian products as 'economic self-harm' and 'not the act of a friend'.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

This airline is facing the ultimate makeover test
This airline is facing the ultimate makeover test

Sydney Morning Herald

time20 minutes ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

This airline is facing the ultimate makeover test

Virgin Australia has completed one of the largest corporate makeovers in Australian history. From bankruptcy five years ago, in a few weeks, investors large and small will get an opportunity to punt on its shares – to decide whether this is a quality reno or one with just a lick of paint and floorboard polishing. The vendors, private equity outfit Bain, will be handsomely rewarded, as will a handful of its senior management who could pocket tens of millions of dollars if the airline's hockey stick earnings forecasts are met. But what about the new band of shareholders who have been offered shares in the new public listing, or those who are thinking of buying into Virgin after it lists at the end of the month? Loading Investing in aviation has a long history of being at the riskier end of the spectrum. Airlines are especially sensitive to black swan events such as COVID-19 or 9/11, but they are also susceptible to changing industry dynamics such as new entrants, disruption in market share, or the health of the economy. In the 25 years since its launch as the cheeky disruptor airline funded by Richard Branson, Virgin Blue has had many corporate faces – not all of them attractive in an earnings sense. In a financial sense, the period in which it sought to clone Qantas was a speculator failure. But the common theme has been its position as a challenger to Australia's aviation queen – Qantas. Virgin Blue was born in 2000 as a low-cost airline that carved out a new market, tapping into price-sensitive leisure customers who could not afford to fly Qantas or its then-rival Ansett, which collapsed the following year.

Australian protest as activist boat hits Gaza blockade
Australian protest as activist boat hits Gaza blockade

West Australian

time23 minutes ago

  • West Australian

Australian protest as activist boat hits Gaza blockade

Protesters have demonstrated outside Anthony Albanese's electorate office after Israel blocked a boat carrying desperately needed aid to Gaza. Climate advocate Greta Thunberg was among a dozen activists on board the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's vessel Madleen when it was intercepted by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean Sea early on Monday. They were prevented from entering the blockaded enclave. Students for Palestine, one of the groups that called for a snap protest at the prime minister's electorate office in Sydney among others around the country, said Australia should expel the Israeli ambassador. "The Madleen crew represent the hopes of all those who stand for humanity against the starvation and bombardment of Gazans, and they must be immediately released," the group's co-convenor Jasmine Duff said on Monday. Carrying placards and umbrellas on a rainy Monday they vocalised their anger and demanded Australia diplomatically increase pressure on Israel. "We call on Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong to immediately expel the Israeli ambassador, cut all military and economic ties with Israel, and pressure Israel to release the illegally kidnapped crew," Ms Duff added. The Sicily-based coalition said the humanitarian boat was "unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo - including baby formula, food and medical supplies - confiscated." But the Israeli foreign ministry pointed the finger at Thunberg saying it was a "selfie yacht of celebrities" and those on board would be deported to their home countries. The progressive Jewish Council of Australia also urged Australia to place sanctions on Israel. "The world is watching," the council's executive officer Sarah Schwartz said. "We don't have to be a 'major player' to show our commitment to the basic humanity of Palestinians and be part of the global movement to pressure Israel through sanctions to comply with international law," The lack of food reaching Gaza caused by Israeli aid obstruction is leaving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians "vulnerable to starvation", the United Nations warned earlier in June. More than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's ongoing military offensive, according to Gaza health officials. The retaliatory campaign was in response to Hamas militants killing 1200 Israelis and capturing more than 250 hostages in October 2023. Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.

Australian protest as activist boat hits Gaza blockade
Australian protest as activist boat hits Gaza blockade

Perth Now

time23 minutes ago

  • Perth Now

Australian protest as activist boat hits Gaza blockade

Protesters have demonstrated outside Anthony Albanese's electorate office after Israel blocked a boat carrying desperately needed aid to Gaza. Climate advocate Greta Thunberg was among a dozen activists on board the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's vessel Madleen when it was intercepted by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean Sea early on Monday. They were prevented from entering the blockaded enclave. Students for Palestine, one of the groups that called for a snap protest at the prime minister's electorate office in Sydney among others around the country, said Australia should expel the Israeli ambassador. "The Madleen crew represent the hopes of all those who stand for humanity against the starvation and bombardment of Gazans, and they must be immediately released," the group's co-convenor Jasmine Duff said on Monday. Carrying placards and umbrellas on a rainy Monday they vocalised their anger and demanded Australia diplomatically increase pressure on Israel. "We call on Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong to immediately expel the Israeli ambassador, cut all military and economic ties with Israel, and pressure Israel to release the illegally kidnapped crew," Ms Duff added. The Sicily-based coalition said the humanitarian boat was "unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo - including baby formula, food and medical supplies - confiscated." But the Israeli foreign ministry pointed the finger at Thunberg saying it was a "selfie yacht of celebrities" and those on board would be deported to their home countries. The progressive Jewish Council of Australia also urged Australia to place sanctions on Israel. "The world is watching," the council's executive officer Sarah Schwartz said. "We don't have to be a 'major player' to show our commitment to the basic humanity of Palestinians and be part of the global movement to pressure Israel through sanctions to comply with international law," The lack of food reaching Gaza caused by Israeli aid obstruction is leaving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians "vulnerable to starvation", the United Nations warned earlier in June. More than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's ongoing military offensive, according to Gaza health officials. The retaliatory campaign was in response to Hamas militants killing 1200 Israelis and capturing more than 250 hostages in October 2023. Israel has imposed a naval blockade on the coastal enclave since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store