US tariffs “a blow to fair trade”, says Citrus Australia

Citrus Australia has expressed its disappointment at the Trump administration’s decision to impose a 10 per cent tariff on Australian citrus exports.

In a statement, the industry body said the move ignored ”decades of mutually beneficial trade” and punished both Australian growers and their consumers in the US.

“For many years, our citrus trade with the United States has delivered consistent, high-quality fruit to American consumers while supporting sustainable jobs and growth in Australia,” said Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock.

“This tariff disrupts that balance. Australian and Unites States businesses that have developed 12-month supply chains are now questioning how shoppers in the United States will react.”

Citrus Australia said its position aligned with that of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), which also expressed deep disappointment over the tariff decision and the negative signal it sent to global trading partners.

Echoing the NFF’s strong stance, Hancock said Australian citrus growers were being ”caught in the crossfire of trade politics”, despite operating to the highest standards and providing premium fruit to global markets.

“Australia is better positioned than many competitors to adapt to market shifts, but the tariff will likely cause broader global supply distortions,” Hancock explained.

“When barriers go up, markets respond. Our competitors may divert their exports to Asia, increasing pressure on those markets. It’s a ripple effect, and no one wins.

“As we did during the last round of global trade tensions, we will focus on diversifying markets, and we will be working closely with government to access any support measures announced by the prime minister and the minister for trade,” he added.

The tariff is set to be applied from midnight 5 April in the US.

Citrus Australia said it was committed to supporting growers and exporters through the period and would continue to provide timely updates as the situation evolved.