Australia is scrambling to protect its trade interests after US President Donald Trump abruptly imposed a sweeping 15% tariff on all imports, a move Canberra has condemned as unjustified and potentially damaging to one of its most critical economic partnerships The announcement came less than 24 hours after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the president’s original 10% import tariff. In response, Trump reinstated the 10% duties under a different legal authority before increasing the rate to 15%. Donald trump's approval for tariffs for many countries In a statement released Sund

Australia is scrambling to protect its trade interests after US President Donald Trump abruptly imposed a sweeping 15% tariff on all imports, a move Canberra has condemned as unjustified and potentially damaging to one of its most critical economic partnerships

The announcement came less than 24 hours after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the president’s original 10% import tariff. In response, Trump reinstated the 10% duties under a different legal authority before increasing the rate to 15%.

Donald trump's approval for tariffs for many countries

In a statement released Sunday, Australia’s Trade Minister Don Farrell said the government was working closely with the Australian embassy in Washington to assess the implications of the decision.

“Australia believes in free and fair trade,” Farrell said. “We have consistently advocated against these unjustified tariffs.”

Tariffs Expected to Take Effect This Week

The new levies are expected to take effect at 4pm on Tuesday, 24 February (AEDT), although the White House had not updated its official fact sheet at the time of publication.

Trump defended the move on social media, criticising the Supreme Court ruling as “ridiculous” and “extraordinarily anti-American,” and alleging that foreign nations had been “ripping the U.S. off for decades.” He said his administration would determine and issue “legally permissible” tariffs in the coming months.

Farrell is scheduled to travel to Los Angeles for the G’Day USA event, where he is expected to meet senior US officials in a bid to address the issue directly.

Political Reaction in Australia

Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson described the tariffs as “regrettable and unfortunate,” arguing they run counter to the spirit of the Australia–US free trade agreement.

Defence Minister James Paterson described the tariffs as “regrettable

“I would hope that the president would consider an exemption for Australia,” Paterson told Sky News, adding that Australia’s incoming ambassador to Washington, Greg Moriarty, should prioritise securing such an exemption.

Nationals leader David Littleproud warned the tariffs would ultimately hurt consumers.

“Tariffs are inflationary. And guess who pays it? It’s the little guy,” he said, arguing the costs would be passed on through higher prices at supermarkets and in construction.

Economic Impact Likely Limited

Independent economist Saul Eslake said the direct impact on Australia was likely to be modest, given the relatively small share of exports affected by previous tariff measures.

He noted that worst-case economic scenarios predicted in 2025 did not materialise, though uncertainty surrounding the latest policy shift could weigh on business confidence and investment decisions.

“The effects of the tariffs to date, while Trump had imposed them on Australia, were quite limited,” Eslake said, cautioning that global markets may face renewed volatility as countries evaluate their responses.

Broader Trade Tensions

The latest move follows Trump’s earlier decision in November to remove tariffs on beef, coffee and banana exports after acknowledging that US domestic demand was outstripping supply. The Australian government has repeatedly criticised broad-based tariffs as economically counterproductive.

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As diplomatic efforts intensify, Canberra’s next steps will likely focus on securing exemptions and reinforcing the bilateral trade framework that has underpinned Australia–US economic relations for decades.

The coming days will test whether negotiations can prevent further strain on one of Australia’s most significant trading partnerships.

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