Rep. Courtney on President Trump’s Indiscriminate Tariffs
Trump punishes our allies as much, if not more, than our adversaries
NORWICH, CT – Today, Congressman Joe Courtney AO (CT-02), Co-Chair of the Friends of Australia Caucus, issued the following statement.
“After President Trump’s initial steel and aluminum tariff announcement on February 10, there was hope that on April 2 he would recalibrate his tariffs to prevent collateral damage to trusted allies with both free trade agreements and top-secret national security ties, such as Australia. Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed.
“All of President Trump’s tariffs on Australia defy any logic. The U.S. has a trade surplus with Australia, and the 2004 bilateral trade agreement eliminated tariffs. Australian corporations’ equity funds have made substantial investments in the United States creating American jobs that benefit both countries. In 2021, the trilateral AUKUS agreement to jointly build conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarines will help grow our own U.S. Navy ‘very fast, very soon’. Australia is also a critical, strategic Five Eyes ally that is making a herculean effort to strengthen its military posture in the Indo-Pacific and deliver on the AUKUS mission. Imposing a tariff equal to Iran is a slap in the face to a great ally and an embarrassment to Americans who value our two countries’ shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”