‘Why did Australia get whacked?’: Tariffs spark US Senate row

Mark Warner, a Democrat, lambasted Trump’s trade representative over the 10 per cent tariffs on a country which he said was one of America’s closest allies | WATCH

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Tensions flared at the Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday (local time) as

Donald Trump’s trade representative Jamieson Greer was grilled over why Australia has been hit with tariffs despite have a trade surplus with the US.

Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat, lambasted Mr Greer over the 10 per cent tariffs on a country which he said was one of America’s closest security allies.

“We already have a free-trade agreement, we have a trade surplus – so getting the ‘least bad’ – why did they get whacked in the first place?” Mr Warner asked Mr Greer.

JUST NOW: Senator Mark Warner GOES OFF on Jamieson Greer asking why we would tariff Australia: “Answer the question on Australia! We have a trade surplus with Australia! We have a free trade agreement! They are an incredibly important national security partner. Why were they… pic.twitter.com/RnH1mxgReC

— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) April 8, 2025

He added: “They are an incredibly important national security partner. “Why were they whacked with a tariff?

“The idea that we are going to whack friend and foe alike, and particularly friends, with this level [of tariffs] is both insulting to the Australians, undermines our national security and frankly makes us not a good partner going forward,” he said.

Mr Greer said that despite the surplus, Australia bans US beef and pork, and the US should be “running up the score” in terms of trade.

“We’re addressing the $1.2 trillion deficit – the largest in human history – that President Biden left us with, we should be running up the score in Australia – they ban our beef, they ban our pork, they’re getting ready to impose measures on our digital companies, it’s incredible, “” Mr Greer said.

But Mr Warner interrupted him, saying he was a “much smarter person than that answer” and calling the market rally today a “good day in hospice.”

The 10 per cent baseline tariffs on Australia and other countries went into effect on Saturday. At midnight on Wednesday (local time) Mr Trump’s higher import tax rates on dozens of countries and territories will take hold.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Mr Trump said his tariffs have been “somewhat explosive,” but he defended the policy, saying: “The money is pouring in at a level we’ve never seen before.”

“We have a lot of countries coming in to make deals,” Mr Trump said, adding that more than 70 countries have reached out to his administration about making deals.