US tariff rate is a ‘vindication' for the Labor government: Trade Minister
'I think this is a vindication for the Albanese government and particularly the prime minister in the cool and calm way we have conducted diplomacy with the United States,' Mr Farrell said during a press conference on Friday.
'What this decision means … is Australian products are now more competitive in the American market.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
17 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Australia, Indonesia urged to deepen ties amid threats
Australia and Indonesia should deepen their defence ties to jointly tackle threats such as cyber attacks and economic coercion, a think tank says. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's report, released on Tuesday, calls for a framework between the two nations to focus on co-ordinated harmful activities, with the potential to expand regionally. It found hybrid threats, a combination of military and non-military actions, had become more frequent and sophisticated across the Indo-Pacific. These tactics extended to disinformation campaigns and exploited societal vulnerabilities, challenging the sovereignty of even well‑governed states, the report says. The signing of a defence co-operation agreement last August between Canberra and Jakarta marked a "major step forward," but its long-term success depended on managing strategic differences in addition to "building trust that can withstand both political shocks and geopolitical shifts". The report says the current dynamic of Australia placing greater strategic value on the relationship with Indonesia than vice versa, would likely remain in place. "Optimism and ambition will still be needed to achieve a more balanced partnership, but it's also crucial that Australian policymakers ground their expectations in this reality," it reads. "Politicians, in particular, should guard against optimism bias. "Seeing Indonesia as it is, rather than as what Canberra would like it to be, will be essential to realise the (defence co-operation agreement's) limited but important potential." Through co-ordinated responses and trilateral maritime frameworks involving the Philippines, Australia and Indonesia can build a more purpose-driven security partnership, the report says. Following his landslide election victory in May, Anthony Albanese made his first overseas trip of his second term in office to Indonesia. Sitting down with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, the prime minister pushed for boosted defence and investment ties during high-level talks. Reports emerged during the federal election campaign that Russia had requested to operate long-range military aircraft from an Indonesian base, alarmed Australia's leaders who came out strongly against the proposal. Indonesian authorities were quick to reassure their Australian counterparts the push from Moscow would not go ahead.
Perth Now
17 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Donald Trump lauds Sydney Sweeney's controversial American Eagle campaign
Donald Trump has hailed Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle advertising campaign. The US President has lavished praise on the Euphoria actress - who has been identified as a registered Republican in Florida - for featuring in the "hottest" commercial for the brand's jeans, even though it has been criticised on social media and sparked a debate about beauty standards. Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the 'hottest' ad out there. It's for American Eagle, and the jeans are 'flying off the shelves'. Go get 'em Sydney!" The White House chief compared the advertisement to car manufacturer Jaguar's ill-fated rebrand last year, which he branded as a "seriously woke advertisement" and a "total disaster". Trump, 79, also used his post to take aim at Taylor Swift - whom he clashed with previously after she endorsed his rival Kamala Harris in last year's presidential election - as he described her as a "woke singer". He said: "Ever since I alerted the world as to when she was by saying on TRUTH that I can't stand her (HATE!). She was booed out of the Super Bowl and became NO LONGER HOT. The tide has seriously turned - Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" A public database in Florida shows that Sweeney, 27, was registered as a Republican voter in the state last June - with the matter being discovered by a YouTuber who came across it as she put together a profile of The White Lotus star. American Eagle defended the actress last week after the campaign's tagline 'Sydney Sweeney has great jeans' was criticised because the phrase "great genes" is associated with eugenicists - who argue that humanity can be improved genetically through selective breeding. The company wrote in an Instagram post: "'Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. "We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone." Sydney revealed that she was "freaking out" when she was approached to star in the campaign. She said: "I was freaking out because I was like, 'This is perfect', and I was so excited. "When they were like, 'We want it to be a denim campaign', I was through the roof. I was like, 'This is it. This is Syd. I will be able to bring this to life. You have no idea.'"
Sky News AU
17 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Woolworths, McDonald's and Coles say they will not stock US beef despite relaxed biosecurity measures
Several major Australian companies have confirmed they are planning to stick with domestic beef suppliers despite the Albanese government's move to loosen import controls on meat products from the United States. In June, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said Australia would be removing biosecurity restrictions on beef produced in the US, Canada and Mexico. The move sparked concern from farmers, who warned it could introduce mad cow disease into Australia and threaten the livelihood of domestic producers. However, McDonald's Australia and the nation's major supermarkets told they would continue to use Australian suppliers despite the government's move. In a statement, a Woolworths spokesperson said they had longstanding relationships with many domestic suppliers and had 'no plans' to source beef elsewhere. 'We apply an Australia-first approach and 100 per cent of our fresh red meat is sourced directly from Australian farmers,' they said. 'We have no plans to change that approach.' Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Coles said: 'At Coles, we continue to partner with top beef producers across Australia to bring our customers the high-quality, 100 per cent Australian-sourced Coles brand fresh beef that they enjoy today'. McDonald's Australia also said they would continue to purchase from Australian farmers. 'We'll continue to source 100 per cent Aussie beef for our menu and provide our customers with the great taste, quality, and value they know and love,' a spokesperson told Meat and Livestock Australia managing director Michael Crowley welcomed the decisions from Coles, Woolworth and McDonald's, as he sought to calm fears about the impact of the government's changes. 'The potential for US beef to be imported into Australia in large volumes is minimal,' he told Mr Crowley cited the high demand for Australian beef in the US, the low US cattle herd and the strength of the Australian dollar. "More than 99 per cent of beef available in Australian supermarkets, pubs and restaurants is Australian beef,' he said. "Australia produces approximately three times more beef than needed to feed our population. Around 70 per cent of our production is exported to global markets. "The impact of US and Canadian beef entering Australia is expected to be minimal. It is unlikely there will be an adverse effect on Australian cattle producers." The decision to loosen biosecurity rules comes as Australia attempts to navigate unpredictable trade policy from the Trump administration, including the threat of tariffs on a range of exports. Trade Minister Don Farrell has refused to be drawn on whether opening the Australian market to US beef was part of an effort to avoid any potential trade restrictions.
