‘Regrettable’: Trade Minister Don Farrell promotes free and fair trade as Trump touts more tariffs

Trade Minister Don Farrell will advocate for free trade when he travels to America this week in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s fresh imposition of a 15 per cent global tariff.

After the US Supreme Court knocked down Mr Trump’s tariffs regime – which had hit Australian imports with a 10 per cent “baseline” impost – on Saturday the President announced he was imposing a new 10 per cent global tariff using a different legal mechanism.

Overnight Sunday, he lifted this to 15 per cent “based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs”, he announced via social media.

Senator Farrell said Australia believed in free and fair trade.

“We have consistently advocated against these unjustified tariffs,” he said.

“We are working closely with our embassy in Washington to assess the implications and examine all options.”

The minister is headed to the US this week, with the timing of the visit coincidental but fortuitous since it puts him on the ground as the Trump administration is working through its new policy.

Opposition frontbencher James Paterson said the fresh tariffs were contrary to the long-standing free trade agreement between Australia and the US and also went against the spirit of friendship.

“It’s regrettable and unfortunate as it relates to the Australia-US trading relationship,” he told Sky News.

“I would hope that the President considers an exemption for Australia from that tariff, and I hope that the Albanese Government, with their new ambassador, Greg Moriarty, shortly to start in Washington DC, are able to secure that exemption for Australia.”