Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP said Labor had failed Australian exporters after the U.S. Trump Administration confirmed a 12.5 per cent tariff on certain Australian exports.
Dr Webster said the tariffs are unjustified and inconsistent with the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement, but blamed the Albanese Labor Government for not working hard enough to secure a lower tariff rate for Australian exporters.
“Seventeen countries were given a flat 10 per cent rate. Australia was not one of them,” Dr Webster said.
“The United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, India and Indonesia all now face a lower rate than Australia. We are on the worst 12.5 per cent tariff rate, the same rate as Russia, China and Venezuela.
“At Senate Estimates the Leader of The Nationals asked whether the Albanese Government intended to argue that Australia belonged in the lower tier. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade agreed the lower tier was available – yet other countries got the lower tariff, and Australia missed out.
The National Farmers Federation said on Friday it is profoundly disappointed in the decision, which it described as a ‘disappointing setback for Australian exporters … among the least subsidised in the world.’
Dr Webster noted the Department testified that officials had not appeared before the US public hearings in April, having judged that there were ‘sufficient opportunities’ elsewhere.
The US tariffs have been imposed due to their concerns about forced labour in supply chains, and Dr Webster said Labor had not taken meaningful action against forced labour in international supply chains, despite years of warnings.
“Four years ago, Senator Wong told the Senate she was ‘deeply concerned’ about Uyghur forced labour in solar-panel supply chains. Since then, Labor has appointed a commissioner but failed to establish the kind of import prohibition the United States says is required,” Dr Webster said.
“The Nationals demand the Government fully account of its engagement with the United States and lay out theirclear plan to have the tariffs removed.
“Labor’s failure to act has weakened our trade position and Australian farmers, exporters and manufacturers will now pay the price.”
