Trade minister hopes Trump’s latest tariffs could seal Australia-EU trade deal
Don Farrell has pledged to push back on the Trump administration’s latest tariff strike, but also said the move provides fresh “impetus” for the EU and Australia to seal their free trade pact.
Trade Minister Don Farrell has pledged to push back against the Trump administration’s sweeping global tariffs but says the shock move may have a silver lining: extra “impetus” for the European Union (EU) to sign its free trade deal with Australia.
US President Donald Trump over the weekend pledged to circumvent a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his previous tariffs by imposing a 10% global tariff using another law, before warning on social media that that would be raised to 15%.
Farrell, who will jet imminently to Los Angeles for the annual G’Day USA event, said he would tell his US colleagues that “we expect you to honour” the terms of the Australia-US free trade agreement (FTA).
But as middle powers scramble to react to Trump’s erratic tariff regime, Farrell insisted the volatility may push the EU to finalise long-running negotiations with Canberra.
