Updated

GST shapes up as Trump trade tariff exemption stumbling block

John Kehoe, Andrew Tillett and Gus McCubbing

Updated Mar 25, 2025 – 5.52pm, first published at 12.45pm

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Trade officials are increasingly concerned the Trump administration may decide Australia’s goods and services tax is a form of trade barrier as the White House deliberates on exemptions to sweeping global tariffs.

US President Donald Trump said the next stage of his trade plan, expected to be finalised next week, will focus on so-called reciprocal tariffs that will be tailored to countries and reflect perceived barriers on American goods.

John Kehoe is economics editor at Parliament House, Canberra. He writes on economics, politics and business. John was Washington correspondent covering Donald Trump’s first election. He joined the Financial Review in 2008 from Treasury.

Andrew Tillett writes on politics, foreign affairs, defence and security from the Canberra press gallery.

Gus McCubbing is a journalist at the Australian Financial Review in Melbourne.