Australia: Canberra Meetings on US Tariffs

Australia: Canberra Meetings on US Tariffs

In October, I joined an Australian opal industry delegation to Canberra, meeting the Minister for Trade’s office, our local Member of Parliament, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s US Trade Taskforce.

Since July 2026, most Australian goods entering the United States, including opal and other coloured gemstones, attract a 12.5% tariff under Section 301. Unlike the EU, Cambodia, Indonesia and Taiwan, Australia has no exemption for loose coloured gemstones, and our government has advised that no bilateral agreement is being pursued. We are planning on the basis that the tariff will remain.

The meetings were nonetheless positive. Officials recognised Australian opal as unique and agreed it is a clear example of a tariff that falls on American consumers, because the United States has no domestic supply. This aligns closely with the work of the American Gem Trade Association, and our Embassy in Washington will connect AGTA with Australia’s Ambassador.

We also raised the practical problems of trading a one-of-one gem: sampling, consignment, and how courier companies charge and refund duty. Government has asked for case studies.
I would welcome hearing from fellow Ambassadors whose members face similar courier and refund issues.