Trump’s top trade adviser Jamieson Greer blasts Australia

US trade representative Jamieson Greer has lashed out at Australian non-tariff trade barriers as Donald Trump pushed ahead with tariffs on China and flagged pharmaceuticals were next.

US President Donald Trump speaks at the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Washington. Picture: Pool/AP

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has suggested Canberra has defied the free-trade agreement with America, accusing it of taking “incredible” steps to ban US beef and pork while also targeting major digital companies.

The suggestion Australia had poked loopholes in the 20-year-old free-trade deal came as America pushed ahead with its additional 50 per cent tariffs on Beijing, taking the total tariff rate to 104 per cent, with Donald Trump flagging that duties on pharmaceuticals would be next.

US stocks continued to fall on Tuesday – despite an early rally buoyed by hopes the tariffs would be used to negotiate deals – with the S&P 500 shedding 1.6 per cent and the Nasdaq composite down 2.15 per cent.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent provided some early optimism by saying he thought the world would see “some very large countries with large trade deficits come forward very quickly”.

“If they come to the table with solid proposals, I think we can end up with some good deals,” he said.

In a speech to the National Republican Congressional Committee on Tuesday evening, President Donald Trump lamented that America did “not make our own pharmaceuticals, drugs and other things to get better. They are made in other countries.

“We’re going to do something that we have to do. We’re going to tariff our pharmaceuticals and once we do that they’re going to come rushing back into our country. Because we are the big market. So, we are going to be announcing very shortly a major tariff on pharmaceuticals.”

Amid growing signs of internal division over the reciprocal tariff plan – with Elon Musk branding top trade adviser Peter Navarro “Peter Retarrdo” – Mr Trump said the Chinese tariffs would remain at 104 per cent “until they make a deal with us”.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt did not attempt to play down the spat. “These are obviously two individuals who have very different views on trade and on tariffs,” she said. “Boys will be boys, and we will let their public sparring continue.”

Denying the administration had ignited a global trade war in a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday, Mr Greer – Mr Trump’s top trade negotiator – argued that “most countries have said they’re not going to retaliate”. “This is not a trade war,” he said.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer testifies during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on President Donald Trump's 2025 trade policies. Picture: AFP

Mr Greer was also forced to justify the 10 per cent tariff imposed on Australia by the White House under fierce questioning by Democratic Senator for Virginia, Mark Warner.

“We have a free-trade agreement with Australia. We don’t have tariffs … We have a trade surplus with Australia,” Senator Warner said.

“Can you explain to me how it helps America’s national security or our trading balance … (that) Australia got hit with a 10 per cent tariff as well?”

Mr Greer said “Australia has the lowest rate available under the new program” but was again interrupted by Senator Warner who asked why it was fair that Australia was given the “least bad” tariff rate. “Why did they get whacked in the first place?” he asked.

Mr Greer responded by saying the administration was “addressing the $1.2 trillion (trade) deficit” left by former president Joe Biden.

Again, Senator Warner was unsatisfied. “Answer the question on Australia,” he said. “We have a trade surplus with Australia. We have a free-trade agreement. They are an incredibly important national security partner. Why were they whacked with a tariff?”

Mr Greer said that “despite the (free-trade agreement), they ban our beef, they ban our pork, they’re getting ready to impose measures on our digital companies. It’s incredible.”

Senator Warner remained unsatisfied, saying that if the tariffs remained in place “we’re looking like an economy that will be in hospice”.