By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-04-03 01:06:37 | Updated at 2025-04-03 23:01:58
22 hours ago
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the decision by US President Donald Trump to impose tariffs was “not the act of a friend”, but ruled out placing reciprocal tariffs against the United States.
Trump said he would impose a 10 per cent baseline tariff on all imports and higher duties on some of his country’s biggest trading partners, ratcheting up a trade war he launched on his return to the White House.
“The [Trump] administration’s tariffs have no basis in logic and they go against the basis of our two nations’ partnership. This is not the act of a friend,” Albanese told reporters.
“These tariffs are not unexpected, but let me be clear, they are totally unwarranted,” he said.
Australia would not impose reciprocal tariffs as this would increase prices for Australian households, he added.
“We will not join a race to the bottom that leads to higher prices and slower growth,” Albanese said.
