Monash University Media Release
Dr Nicola Charwat, Senior Lecturer, Business Law and Taxation, Monash Business School comments on Australia Post’s suspension of most postage to the United States ahead of new tariffs on low-value parcels, and how these tariffs may impact Australian businesses and global trade.
“Australia has joined a growing number of countries suspending small parcel shipments to the US following the removal of a de minimis ‘loophole’ that has allowed parcels valued under $US800 dollars to bypass tariffs.
“The impact in Australia will primarily be felt by small businesses that sell directly to American consumers. This includes businesses specialising in sustainable clothing and gifts, as well as distinctly Australian goods such as cosmetics, food and wine. These parcels will now be subject to a 10 per cent baseline tariff.
“The real target appears to be major overseas retailers like Shein and Temu that also export directly to consumers and avoid much higher baseline tariffs of 25 per cent or more that apply to Chinese imports.
“American consumers are the real losers, facing either restricted access to overseas goods from online businesses or substantially higher prices to cover the tariffs. This is unlikely to play well to American voters who may also find that parcels from friends and family overseas will be impacted.”
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Typical of Trumps unthinking ways. What a sad thing, unless is it is deliberate as some sort of surveillance-ish thing, like sending chocolates to a friend in Gaza.
Normal family gifts, small business interactions internationally between supposedly friendly nations exploited one way by Trump’s US tarifffs all for personal national profit and authoritarian rule. US destination good riddance. Trump the rump can eat his poisoned cake.