Investment and Trade Minister Joe Szakacs says gov ramps up its plans to protect around 100,000 local jobs directly linked to exports

South Australia’s trade team is now actively engaged in Canada as the government ramps up its response to the US, the trade minister says.

SA has its trade experts “deployed” to Canada and the government’s trade minister will lead a mission to China next week as the state fights back against US trade tariffs.

Investment and Trade Minister Joe Szakacs said the state has been working on its trade war plans for months and spurned United States neighbour Canada was at the top of its hit list.

A new wine export campaign has already been launched directly into Canada and a Canadian defence industry delegation was in SA two weeks ago.

President Donald Trump walks toward the Oval Office. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Mr Szakacs said SA’s trade team based in the US “are in Canada as we speak” as the government ramps up its plans to protect around 100,000 local jobs directly linked to exports.

As the state assesses the potential damage of being whacked with 10 per cent tariffs for its exports to the US, Mr Szakacs said wine industry experts were also seeing opportunity.

He said one of the state’s greatest competitors in the US wine market - Europe - was hit with a 20 per cent tariff in comparison to SA’s 10 per cent, making it an easier marketing target for SA.

Trade figures released today also showed that SA’s trade to the US grew by 13 per cent to $2.05bn up to February this year “despite all the disruptions around tariffs” .

“And no tariff will disrupt the fact that what we grow and produce in SA is better than just about anywhere in the world,” Mr Szakacs said.

He referred to US President Donald Trump flagging beef, SA’s largest US export, for higher tariffs, saying the product sent was premium and US buyers would likely still be prepared to pay top dollar to fill market gaps.

“SA beef and lamb is not entering the US as a cheap and cheerful product, it’s entering the US at record levels because of a sustained effort by our farmers and our producers to process world-renowned, premium meat,” Mr Szakacs said.

“The US simply cannot sustain its own demand for meat production.”

Almond Board shell shocked over punishing tariffs

Almond Board of Australia chief Tim Jackson says punishing tariffs imposed by the United States have seen South Australia’s almond industry exports massively increase as it finds lucrative gaps in the world market.

Almond Board of Australia CEO and MRIC Strategic Advisory Panel member Tim Jackson

Mr Jackson said while news about the United States President Donald Trump announcing a 10 per cent across the world tariff on imports was brutal, it could lead to new opportunities in the long term for SA producers.

Since the United States first started throwing punishing tariffs China’s way the industry has surged from selling 600 tonnes of almonds in 2017-2018 to 75,000 tonnes in the current year.

Mr Jackson – who is based in the state’s Riverland region, said California in the United States currently dominated the market producing 80 per cent of the world’s almonds.

Last week, China whacked another 10 per cent onto retaliatory tariffs already in place for the United States taking the overall tariff up to a 35 per cent extra cost to buy Californian almonds.

Australian almonds have gone from selling 600 tonnes to 75,000 in 6 years as a result of tariffs. Picture: Peter Hemphill

In the meantime, Australia continued to benefit from its Free Trade Agreement with China meaning its tariffs sit at zero, driving strong demand for the local nuts.

SA produces 20 per cent of Australian almonds and the industry has grown significantly in recent years.

“Our lessons are while it’s a problem for people operating in the United States now their eyes should be on other markets,” Mr Jackson said.

“There will be many other countries who will want to buy from Australia because it’s cheaper.

“It’s not great in the short term but potentially there could be opportunities for lots of other commodities.”

He also referred to the almond sector selling into India where there are also high tariffs on the California product.

“Our almonds go in there at 50 per cent less tariff,” Mr Jackson said.

Mr Trump slapped new tariffs on Australia “effective immediately” with senior government sources confirming an expected 10 per cent tariff on all Australian exports.

He has also signalled tougher barriers for Australian beef without providing specific details, with SA likely to be hit.

Data from Trade and Investment Minister Joe Szakacs office showed SA sent $302.5m worth of beef meat to the United States in the year to November 2024, closely followed by $301m in sheep meat.

SA exported $2.13bn of goods to the United States in the past year to November while importing $752.8m worth at the same time.

Australia sends minimal almonds to the United States, Mr Jackson said it exported low-grade almonds for oil.

Originally published as Investment and Trade Minister Joe Szakacs says gov ramps up its plans to protect around 100,000 local jobs directly linked to exports