Trump’s Trade Policies Revisited: A South Australian Lens on Tariffs, Trade, and Geoeconomics

On 31 July 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating his administration’s “reciprocal” tariff regime—marking a major escalation in global trade tensions. Under the updated policy, countries that run goods trade deficits with the U.S. and have security relationships with it—including Australia—now face a baseline 10% tariff on most exports to the U.S., with other countries facing tariffs as high as 50%.

This move signals not only a sharp break from multilateral trade norms, but a return to transactional, bilateral pressure tactics. But what do these shifts mean for Australia—and, in particular, for South Australian exporters and industries deeply embedded in global value chains?

This timely panel discussion, hosted by the Economic Society of Australia (SA Branch),  Institute for International Trade, and the Australian Institute of International Affairs (SA Branch), brings together leading voices in trade policy, economics, and international affairs to unpack these developments through a South Australian lens.

The session will begin with a high-level analytical update on the logic and scope of the new U.S. tariff regime, followed by a focused discussion on how these shifts are likely to affect South Australian industries, exporters, and policymakers. A moderated panel discussion will then explore the broader geoeconomic and strategic implications, including the erosion of the rules-based trading system and Australia’s potential policy responses.