The ABC has announced that the US is threatening to put a 12.5% tariff on imports from Australia because it “has failed to take action to prevent slavery and forced labour”. Dozens of other countries would also be affected because of their “importation of goods made with forced labour”.

Albanese blames ‘ideology’ (his big thing) but the U.S cites American workers being forced to compete on an “unlevel” playing field.

So which is it? ideology or common sense? And is Australia not as interested in Australian workers as the U.S is in its workforce?

The Opposition Leader agrees with Albanese - the tariffs are “rotten”, but he doesn't address this particular tariff connected to slave labour. He and the Coalition are also fans of globalist “free” trade.

The slave employing exporter is not named, but we all know the country and how much Australia and a good bit of the West is dependent on it for things they won't do for themselves.

So, in my opinion, the tariff has nothing to do with trade or U.S workers: it is purely a threat to Australia (and others) to start pulling their weight against a common enemy. Bravo!

what is obvious that Trump is putting his country first. Look at the degradation under Wong, Albo, Bourke, Chalmers and Bowen. Treacherous dei incompetents who have done more in 3 years to destroy the country than the socialist grub Whitlam could of done in a decade.

"Australia does import goods from China that are at significant risk of being produced with forced labour (often described as "slave labour").

China's Xinjiang region (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) has extensive, well-documented evidence from governments (US, UK, EU, Canada), NGOs like Human Rights Watch, researchers (e.g., ASPI), and the UN of state-sponsored forced labour involving Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim minorities. This includes cotton, textiles/garments, solar panel components (polysilicon), tomatoes, aluminium, chemicals, electronics parts, and more.
Australia is a major importer from China (its largest trading partner). Goods linked to these supply chains flow into Australia, including apparel, solar panels, electronics, auto parts, and manufactured goods.
In 2025, investigations (e.g., The Guardian) revealed thousands of import declarations (over 3,300 from just eight US-blacklisted companies) into Australia from firms sanctioned by the US over Uyghur forced labour links. This includes parts for Sydney Metro trains and other products.
Reports estimate Australia imports around AUD$25 billion annually in goods at high risk of modern slavery/forced labour, much of it from China.

Australia has not implemented a strong ban like the US Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which presumes goods from Xinjiang or linked entities are made with forced labour and blocks them unless proven otherwise.

Australia relies mainly on its Modern Slavery Act 2018, which requires large companies to report on risks but has no import ban or strong enforcement.
A bill to ban goods made with Uyghur forced labour passed the Senate but stalled in the House.
The government agrees "in principle" with stronger measures but cites enforcement challenges. As of 2025-2026, imports from blacklisted Chinese firms continue.

Due to the scale of China's supply chains and weak import controls in Australia (compared to the US), it is highly likely that some goods imported from China involve forced labour. Many Australian consumers and businesses are indirectly linked through everyday products like clothing, solar panels, and electronics.
Australia faces growing criticism for lagging behind allies on this issue. Stronger due diligence laws and import restrictions have been recommended but not fully enacted."

Speaking of the lack of human rights in China, today is the 37th anniversary of the massacre of thousands by the CCP in the democracy protests in Tiananmen Square and elsewhere

http://tr.rbxcdn.com/180DAY-a93409020bf0387665b16232bffb8e35/420/420/Decal/Webp/noFilter

WTF?

Slavery in all its forms is abhorrent.

Perhaps some of the commentators here could suggest ways of unionising the workers in these countries so that they can fight for higher wages.

This is vexed question for the Christian right. Do they just accept that exploited labour is just the invisible hand of the free market doing its thing?

Or will they look to their religious books that tell them that slavery, including sex trafficking, is quite acceptable?

America can talk about slave labour.
They built their country on exploiting cheap immigrant slave labour.

This is just "We can't compete and are going broke!" dressed up as "We're the good, honest and moral United States and we stand up for victims of injustice!"

Umm, say what?
Aren't they supplying all those bombs Israel uses to blow up Gaza and Lebanon and all the apartment buildings full of people and hospitals and used to blow up women and kids living in tents and people just trying to get food and also like girls schools in Iran and hospitals and universities there too and stuff?

- 'That- good, honest and moral United States?

Stuff his stupid tariffs, we'll just buy less stuff from the U.S. then and MORE FROM CHINA.
Doesn't he know our trade with his is piffle?