Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday that U.S. tariffs on Australian steel and aluminum were unjustified, but his government would not retaliate with its own tariffs.
Archived version: https://archive.is/20250312080202/https://www.npr.org/2025/03/12/g-s1-53270/australia-us-tariffs-steel-and-aluminum
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Just sell your products elsewhere; it’s a much stronger statement than retaliatory tariffs.
Why not both? Then it’s two statements simultaneously.
Also, buy your imports elsewhere.
I have my issues with albo but this is a good move for him and the political establishment. Tit for ta tariffs aren’t going to make things better. American tariffs are going to hurt the mill owners and shareholders either way. Reciprocating is just going to raise prices for consumers of imported goods. Saying “we don’t like it but we won’t hit back” could be just what trump wants to hear. Signaling to Trump that the Australian government knows its place as a subservient vassal is pathetic but its also true. No point blustering and chest thumping. Best case, maybe Trump will let Australia off the hook as a reward for knowing their place.
