Australia's trade minister has demanded the removal of a new 12.5% US tariff on Australian exports, describing the levy as unjustified, as authorities also confirmed the first detection of deadly bird flu in Queensland.
Key facts
- Australian exports to the US will face a 12.5% tariff.
- The US is imposing levies on more than 80 nations.
- The Trump administration linked the tariffs to countries' failure to prohibit imports of goods made with forced labour.
- Deadly bird flu has been detected in Queensland for the first time.
- Australia's trade minister called the tariff 'unjustified' and said it 'makes no sense'.
Australian exports sent to the United States will be hit with a 12.5% tariff, after the US president imposed levies on more than 80 nations, according to the Guardian’s live coverage of Australian news. Australia’s trade minister has demanded the removal of the charge, describing it as unjustified.
The Trump administration unveiled the latest tranche of tariffs targeting countries over what it described as their “failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.”
Australia’s trade minister pushed back on that reasoning. “This, in our view, makes no sense,” the minister said, adding that combating forced labour around the world is an objective Australia supports. “Forced labour is definitely something which needs to be combated around the world, so we support that objective.”
The minister also raised concerns about global shipping and fuel supplies, calling for the strait of Hormuz to remain open for commercial navigation. “We absolutely need to see the strait of Hormuz be open and for freedom of navigation to happen there, for commercial shipping to be allowed through, and we very much call on Iran to allow that to be the case,” the minister said.
The disruption is having wider consequences, according to the minister, who called for a return to normal supply chains. “We need to see a restoration to the normal global fuel supply chain because it’s having a significant impact around the world,” the minister said.
Separately, authorities confirmed that a deadly strain of bird flu has been detected in Queensland for the first time. Further details on the detection were not provided in the source coverage.
Why it matters
A 12.5% US tariff could raise costs for Australian exporters and strain trade ties between the two nations. Meanwhile, the first detection of deadly bird flu in Queensland raises concerns for the region's poultry industry and biosecurity efforts.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the new US tariff on Australian exports?
Australian exports sent to the US will be hit with a 12.5% tariff, according to the Guardian's coverage.
Why did the US impose the tariffs?
The Trump administration said the tariffs targeted countries over their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.
What did Australia's trade minister say about the tariff?
The trade minister called the tariff unjustified and said it 'makes no sense,' while noting Australia supports the objective of combating forced labour worldwide.