Anthony Albanese reveals whether Australia will hit US with tariffs in retaliation to Trump – as he shares ominous warning

By CAITLIN POWELL FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 22:39 BST, 2 April 2025 | Updated: 23:08 BST, 2 April 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has slammed Donald Trump’s ‘totally unwarranted’ tariffs but said Australia will not reciprocate. 

Donald Trump delivered his ‘Liberation Day’ address at 7am (AEDT) on Thursday morning with Australia among several countries singled out by the US President as he announced new global tariffs.

‘It is the American people who will pay the biggest price for these unjustified tariffs,’ Mr Albanese said on Thursday.

The Trump administration released a table of reciprocal tariffs following the President’s announcement, showing Vietnam and Cambodia would be among the worst hit countries.

Australia will cop a tariff of at least 10 per cent on all its goods exported to the US.

‘Australia won’t reciprocate: This is why our government will not be seeking to impose reciprocal tariffs. 

‘We will not join a race to the bottom that leads to higher prices and slower growth.’

The Australia-US free trade agreement, which was signed two decades ago, previously prevented tariffs being applied to goods sent overseas.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured)warned Americans will ‘pay the biggest price’ after Donald Trump announced new global tariffs

During his address, Donald Trump took aim at Australia’s ban on fresh beef imports.

‘Australia bans — and they’re wonderful people, and wonderful everything — but they ban American beef,’ he said.

‘Yet we imported $US3 billion of Australian beef from them just last year alone.

‘They won’t take any of our beef.

‘They don’t want it because they don’t want it to affect their farmers and you know, I don’t blame them but we’re doing the same thing right now starting at midnight tonight, I would say.’

Meat and Livestock Australia data showed the US was Australia’s biggest market for beef exports in 2024, putting it well ahead of Japan, South Korea and China.

Of the beef sent to the United States, 96 per cent of it was the leaner, grass fed variety that was either chilled or frozen.

Mr Albanese insisted that Australia’s tough biosecurity laws, as well as its Pharmaceutical benefits Scheme (PBS), were ‘not up for negotiation’.

US President Donald Trump (pictured) took aim at Australia’s ban on fresh beef imports

‘The investments we’re making in the PBS mean that life-saving and life-changing medicines which would otherwise cost people thousands of dollars will be no more than $25 a script,’ the Prime Minister said.

‘Under Labor, that will never be up for negotiation. We don’t want our health system to be more American, we only want it to be more Australian. ‘

Australian industry leaders have reacted to the address, with president of the National Farmers’ Federation David Jochinke saying Australian biosecurity is ‘not for sale’.

‘It is not for negotiation, it is there not only to protect Australian farmers but also the Australian public as well,’ he told ABC Radio National’s Breakfast program.

More to come.

:
Anthony Albanese reveals whether Australia will hit US with tariffs in retaliation to Trump – as he shares ominous warning

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk