The Future of AUKUS: tensions between Washington and Australia push Canberra to lean on additional security partnerships

On August 1, 2025, Australia’s Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell reported that Canberra managed to maintain the United States’ overall tariff rate at 10%.

According to him, this was made possible thanks to a personal decision by President Donald Trump, who opposed the “punitive” initiatives of representatives from his administration.

At the same time, the US and Australia did not reach an agreement on reducing sectoral tariffs of 50%, which apply to Australian steel, aluminum, and copper.