Australia Trade Minister Vows to Fight for Removal of U.S. Tariffs

(MENAFN) Australia's trade minister vowed Thursday to fight for the full removal of U.S. tariffs on Australian goods, as he pressed ahead with an official visit to Washington aimed at reshaping the bilateral trade relationship.

Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism, told Australia's Nine Network that U.S. authorities have confirmed the tariff on Australian imports will hold at 10 percent — sparing Canberra from the steeper 15 percent rate President Donald Trump had announced as a temporary levy on all incoming foreign goods.

But Farrell made clear that a reduced rate was not the finish line.

"It doesn't make any sense and simply pushes up prices in the United States," he said, signaling that Canberra views even the existing 10 percent duty as economically unjustifiable.

The minister, who is stateside promoting Australian tourism, trade, and investment opportunities, said his priority in the coming weeks would be securing the outright elimination of all tariffs applied to Australian exports — a more ambitious target than simply locking in the current lower rate.

Farrell's comments underscore growing frustration among U.S. allies navigating the unpredictable contours of Trump's sweeping tariff agenda, with trading partners large and small scrambling to shield their exporters from escalating costs.

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