Australia got off relatively lightly from US President Donald Trump’s recent swath of tariffs. Photo: Gage Skidmore.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has welcomed the Albanese Government’s “worker-focused” response to US tariffs.
The leading union body said the government’s response to US trade policy focused on protecting the livelihoods of Australian workers during periods of global uncertainty.
“Australian workers know the value of sticking together, so today the union movement stands with our manufacturers, farmers and producers hit with the United States’ unfair and underserved tariffs,” ACTU president Michele O’Neil said.
A broad range of policies is included in the five-point plan to support Australian jobs, consumers and industries. Vital components of the plan are set to strengthen anti-dumping policy, provide extra support to affected sectors and increase government procurement of Australian products.
“Working with unions to navigate these international trade challenges will be particularly important to protecting Australia’s domestic and international interests going forward,” Ms O’Neil said.
Australian businesses will receive preferential treatment from the policy, as the ”Buy Australian” strategy seeks to support domestic industry and bolster jobs through procurement. The strategy also includes a $50 million injection and $1 billion in zero-interest loans for affected sectors and industries to penetrate new markets and the establishment of a reserve for critical minerals.
Critical minerals have become a bargaining chip between Ukraine and the US in recent months as the Trump administration leverages the beleaguered Eastern European nation for its natural resources.
The importance of critical minerals in the production of computers and defence technology makes them a priority for any administration, and Australia’s wealth of such minerals makes it an attractive trading partner.
Recently Japan, Korea and some European nations have either signed agreements or started talks with the Albanese Government to secure access to Australian minerals.
