The United States is planning to impose a 12.5 per cent tariff on goods from Australia, alleging the country has failed to take action to prevent slavery and forced labour.

Anthony Albanese says any tariff on Australian exports to the US is “unjustified and inconsistent” with the free trade agreements between the two allies.

Former Australian ambassador to the US Joe Hockey says Donald Trump is convinced that tariffs are beneficial to the US.

  • Vanth@reddthat.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    76
    ·
    2 months ago

    The US plans to slap the new tariff on dozens of countries for allegedly failing to “address the importation of goods made with forced labour”.

    I hope every country tariffs in return, citing how the US uses prison labor for all sorts of things and pays them so low it would take a full day to earn enough to buy a pack of ramen soup.

    In some states, inmates may be paid as little as $0.12 per hour, a fraction of the minimum wage.

    https://workerscomplawattorney.com/what-is-the-minimum-wage-in-prison/

    • Th4tGuyII@fedia.io
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      27
      ·
      2 months ago

      Exactly what I was thinking. The US is literally renowned for slavery-esque prison labour, yet Trump is the one trying to put an anti-slavery tariff on other countries?

      I sincerely hope other countries do call the fake-tanned paedophile out on yet another tariff related grift.

  • ironhydroxide@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    49
    ·
    2 months ago

    Ironic that one of the worst “first world” countries for worker protections is accusing others of not preventing forced labor.

    Every fucking day people are forced to work in the US, essentially slaves to the corporation. As a decision between work for a pittance or starve is no decision.

  • zurohki@aussie.zone
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    27
    ·
    2 months ago

    Does this mean the US is going to stop paying prisoners pennies an hour for their work?

  • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    20
    ·
    2 months ago

    “And it just goes to show how the world’s on its head when a left-wing Labor prime minister is trying to convince a right-wing Republican president that free trade is actually the right way to go,” Mr Hockey said.

    Trump’s not really “right wing”. He’s an autocrat with zero political philosophy other than his instinct. Nothing is thought out and his policies are based on personal feelings rather than some idea about what is best for society.

    • orclev@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      17
      ·
      2 months ago

      That said his instincts (or rather prejudices) align most closely to the Republicans, mostly due to the Republicans spending every year since Nixon more closely aligning themselves with racists and Christian nationalists (aka Nazis).