US politics live: Trump confirms sweeping tariffs in ‘Liberation Day’ announcement

Donald Trump has confirmed his tariff plans, including a brutal hit to Australia, in his “Liberation Day” speech. Follow live.

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President Donald Trump has announced his long awaited so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs. And Australia has got a special mention.

“Our taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, but it is not going to happen anymore,” Mr Trump said in the White House’s Rose Garden.

All countries will have a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all imports. On top of that, the US will charge reciprocal tariffs on certain countries at “approximately half” their existing rate of levies on US-made goods.

Mr Trump said Australians were “wonderful people” but he claimed Australia refuses to purchase US beef.

“They won’t take any of our beef,” he said. “They don’t want it because they don’t want it to affect their farmers and you know, I don’t blame them but [we’re] doing the same thing right now starting at midnight tonight, I would say.”

It was later clarified that there will be no ban on Australia’s $6 billion-a-year worth of beef sent to the US, but we will face what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called an “unwarranted” tariff of 10 per cent on all exports.

“This is not the act of a friend,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Trump also announced an across-the-board 25 per cent tax on foreign cars.

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Originally published as US politics live: Trump confirms sweeping tariffs in ‘Liberation Day’ announcement