US tariffs on foreign films are ‘unjustified’, says Australian government

Canberra: Australia’s re-elected Labor Party government will make the case that US tariffs on foreign-made films are “unjustified,” a senior minister has said.

Amanda Rishworth, the minister for social services, said Tuesday that the government’s “whole team,” including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, would present a “very strong case” to the United States against the new tariffs following Labour’s landslide victory in Saturday’s election for the 48th parliament.

“These are just unjustified tariffs,” Rishworth, who is also a member of Albanese’s cabinet in the 47th parliament but whose role in the 48th has not yet been announced, told Nine Network television.

US President Donald Trump announced a 100 per cent tariff on films produced outside the United States Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Addressing reporters in Canberra Monday local time, Albanese said that he had spoken to Trump following the election and that they had discussed tariffs.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said Tuesday that the US administration would be made aware of the re-elected government’s opposition to the film tariffs.

“We obviously will be pressing views about this to the US administration,” Wong, who is set to continue in the foreign affairs portfolio, told Nine.

In a separate interview Tuesday morning, Wong told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio that restarting talks with the European Union (EU) on a free trade deal would be an “important part” of Australia’s trade diversification.

“If we’re a trading nation, we don’t want to be part of trade barriers because it’s not good for us. It’s an act of economic self-harm, so of course, we’ll engage with the EU and others,” she said.

Negotiations on the trade agreement with the EU collapsed in 2023 when both sides could not reach an agreement on Australian agricultural exporters’ access to the European market.

Labour said in April that it would reopen talks with the EU if victorious at the election.

News Corp Australia newspapers reported Tuesday that Albanese is prepared to abolish Australia’s tax on luxury car imports from the EU in return for better access to agricultural exports.

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