ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
The nation is bracing itself for a possible worst case scenerio this month as US President Donald Trump’s tariff war begins against his closest allies and neighbours.
America attacked Canada and Mexico earlier this week with large tariffs on all products, only to almost immediately retreat and put them on ice for 30 days in a bizarre backdown.
Australia is not immune to attack from the US Government, especially if they’re happy going after Canada. What would it mean if America slapped a tariff on all Australian products and the Albanese Government retaliating with one of their own?
Americans would pay much, much for for their sheep and goat meat. Australia’s biggest export to America (after informed conservative media in Murdoch, information services in Julian Assange and illegal drugs in Silk Road Guy) is just that. Lamb and goat. Then pearls and other shiny things like gold. Then it withers away until right down the bottom, America imports $3000 worth of Australia silk each year.
The biggest import to Australia from America, and biggest victim of a possible tariff war, are vehicles.
Everthing from the Dodge Ram to the Ford F-150 to the equally as lame Tesla Model 3 and Y. The cost of purchasing a new imported Dodge Ram would skyrocket, as would a Tesla.
Former Prime Minister Bob Menzies famously stated “one must take their ying, with their yang” and losing the Musk Mobile and the Yank Tank to tariffs is that in principle.
With than yang, transport vehicles like prime movers and whatnot. Agricultural vehicles like tractors and headers. They will also become much more expensive. Boeing aircraft, much more expensive. Many private jets. Heavy machinery like dozers and graders. Mind you, only ones made in America. The list goes on.
More to come.
