PM says US tariffs 'not act of a friend'

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said yesterday the decision by US President Donald Trump to impose a 10% tariff on its ally was "not the act of a friend", but ruled out reciprocal tariffs against the United States.

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In comments outside the White House, Mr Trump singled out Australian beef, which saw a surge in exports to the US last year, reaching A$4 billion (87 billion baht), amid a slump in US beef production.

"They won't take any of our beef. They don't want it because they don't want it to affect the farmers and you know, I don't blame them but we're doing the same thing right now," Mr Trump said in an event in the White House Rose Garden announcing tariffs on a wide range of US trading partners.

Australia banned US fresh beef products in 2003 due to the detection of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, otherwise known as mad cow disease, in US cattle. It poses no risk to human health and has never been detected in cattle in Australia.