The Economy, Stupid When Trade Wars Hit Home
Sep 11, 2025
Amelia Terzon, an ABC National business reporter, and Felicity Dean, a trade law expert from the Queensland University of Technology, dive into the impacts of new U.S. trade barriers on Australian businesses. They discuss how rising tariffs are squeezing small retailers and complicating shipping regulations. The conversation shifts to the legal battles surrounding these tariffs and their potential consequences on the separation of powers. The urgency of navigating chaotic grant applications and future Supreme Court decisions adds to the pressing stakes for international trade.
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Data Shows Many Parcels Face Higher Tariffs
- Early shipping data shows many Australian parcels are declared as made in China or other origins and face higher tariffs.
- Amelia Terzon cites Ship It data where only 25% of Australian parcels claim Australian origin.
Postal Systems Were Unprepared
- Postal networks lacked systems to collect new US import duties, prompting Australia Post to pause most US-bound shipments.
- Amelia Terzon explains Australia Post sought third-party systems to collect and remit tariffs before resuming service.
Legal Basis Under Scrutiny
- The Trump administration used the IEEPA to justify tariffs, raising constitutional questions about taxation powers.
- Felicity Dean outlines the history from the Trading With the Enemy Act to the IEEPA and legal constraints on presidential taxing power.