Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has said that the latest move by President Donald Trump has not come as a surprise.
Newspot reported that President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on many countries across different continents on Wednesday.
Speaking at the White House Rose Garden on “Liberation Day,” Trump assured that the new levies would have a positive impact on America.
Australia said the tariffs were “not unexpected”, but insisted that they are unwarranted.
“President Trump referred to reciprocal tariffs. A reciprocal tariff would be zero, not 10%. The administration’s tariffs have no basis in logic and they go against the basis of our two nations’ partnership. This is not the act of a friend,” Albanese said.
The PM further added that the move will have consequences for how Australians see their relationship with the US.
“The Australian people have every right to view this action by the Trump administration as undermining our free and fair trading relationship and counter to the shared values that have always been at the heart of our two nations’ longstanding friendship.
“This will have consequences for how Australians see this relationship,” he said.
