Trump Tariffs Aussie Meds—Chalmers Starts Googling “What’s WTO Again?”
Author by
Lola
Wednesday, 2025 Jul 09|
08:21 AM
Donald Trump is back in tariff mode, and this time he’s aimed straight at Australia’s medicine cabinet.
The former (and maybe future?) U.S.
president announced a 200% tariff on foreign pharmaceuticals—because why gently destroy global trade when you can absolutely obliterate it with extra seasoning?
Australia's pharma export industry is worth over $2 billion, but now it’s looking shakier than your grandma’s pill organiser.
The moment Trump made the announcement, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he was seeking "urgent clarity"—which we all know is political speak for “What the hell just happened?” and “How do I fix this before the markets do another nervous breakdown?” Let’s not pretend this is about health.
This is textbook Trump: chaos for breakfast, ego for lunch, and a press conference shouting “AMERICA FIRST” for dinner.
The guy’s been huffing trade war fumes since 2018, and now he’s back at it—using tariffs as if they’re Uno reverse cards for every country that sells stuff better than the U.S.
For Aussies, this means any future exports of medical products—from vaccines to basic prescriptions—could become financial roadkill on Trump's "economic nationalism" highway.
Australian companies that rely on U.S. buyers?
Currently sweating harder than a politician during question time.
Meanwhile, the Albanese government is doing the diplomatic version of texting in all caps.
They’re trying to soothe nerves without looking weak, and still somehow get the U.S.
to stop treating trade partners like Tinder matches—swiping right until it’s inconvenient.
Oh, and it gets cuter: Trump also threatened to expand tariffs to other industries if countries don’t match U.S.
pricing. Which, if you’re paying attention, is straight-up cartel energy.
Next week: he bans paracetamol because it’s “not American enough.” Australia now finds itself in the awkward position of defending free trade while realising free trade has commitment issues.
Chalmers better brush up on his WTO reading, because this just turned into a pharmaceutical Hunger Games, and we’re wearing a target.
💊 Trump: “Buy American or cry harder.” 🇦🇺 Chalmers: “I need a Panadol and a miracle.” 🌍 WTO: “This is why we can’t have nice things.”
🧨 You made it to the end. now what?
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