The U.S has increased the tariff on Australian goods to 12.5%, as it promised, because Australia has not done enough (anything?) to address forced labour in countries like China.

Canada, Britain, India, Malaysia and Argentina will pay only 10%.

The U.S rigidly enforces bans and strictures on countries using forced labour, so countries like Australia have an unfair trade advantage, according to the U.S.

The Deputy Prime Minister huffed and puffed about Australia having some of the toughest laws on forced labour etc. etc. Not so.

Justine Nolan, Director of the Australian Human Rights Institute, University of NSW, says Australia's laws are definitely not among the strongest in the world.

Only last week, the government was talking about doing better on this matter, including the imposition of criminal charges against Australian importers bringing in goods produced by forced labour.

If this was done, it would make a significant difference, according to Nolan.

Trump has worse treatment in store for the EU, following its fining of Google for its breach of the Digital Markets Act. He doesn't like American companies being treated like that by an EU that has been bludging off America for ever. He will not allow them to use America as a piggybank any longer. He has consistently warned the EU about the kind of contact that he describes as “illegal and highly unethical”. A substantial tariff will be imposed at “earliest possible moment”.