The planned new tariff is to be slapped on dozens of countries that have allegedly failed to take action to prevent slavery and forced labour.

The United States is planning to impose a 12.5 per cent tariff on goods from Australia, alleging the country has failed to take action to prevent slavery and forced labour.

Anthony Albanese says any tariff on Australian exports to the US is “unjustified and inconsistent” with the free trade agreements between the two allies.

Former Australian ambassador to the US Joe Hockey says Donald Trump is convinced that tariffs are beneficial to the US.

  • atzanteol@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    161·
    7 hours ago

    “And it just goes to show how the world’s on its head when a left-wing Labor prime minister is trying to convince a right-wing Republican president that free trade is actually the right way to go,” Mr Hockey said.

    Trump’s not really “right wing”. He’s an autocrat with zero political philosophy other than his instinct. Nothing is thought out and his policies are based on personal feelings rather than some idea about what is best for society.

    • orclev@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      7 hours ago

      That said his instincts (or rather prejudices) align most closely to the Republicans, mostly due to the Republicans spending every year since Nixon more closely aligning themselves with racists and Christian nationalists (aka Nazis).