The United States has announced new tariffs on imports from Australia and trade partners globally.
The United States has imposed a 10 per cent baseline which took effect on 5 April 2025. Most goods originating in Australia will be subject to this 10 per cent tariff on import into the United States. In addition, other US trading partners will be subject to new reciprocal tariff rates, calculated individually and taking effect from 9 April. The new tariffs will be paid by US importers.
Click on the following Australian Government links to learn more about the tariffs, including exemptions:
The United States is a leading trade and investment partner for Victoria, and Global Victoria continues to monitor announcements and provide support for Victorian companies.
Global Victoria's expert team of trade specialists led by our Commissioner to the Americas, Nigel Warren, can provide your business with in-market guidance.
Connect with our team to learn how we can help your business successfully engage with the U.S. and Canada.
Market snapshot
The U.S. and Canada are highly competitive markets. If you’re an export-ready business considering entering the U.S. or Canada, it’s essential to offer innovative and clearly differentiated products and services.
It’s also critical to have a well-researched and targeted market entry strategy. Exporters should consider the different regulations, business and consumer preferences that exist across the 50 U.S. States.
USA and Canada Market Update
Team Canada Trade Mission to Australia
In February, Global Victoria welcomed the Team Canada Trade Mission to Melbourne, hosting over 100 Canadian delegates. It was an opportunity to connect Victorian and Canadian companies in key sectors including clean energy, digital innovation and agriculture. The networking reception was delivered in partnership with Global Affairs Canada and the Canadian Australian Chamber of Commerce.
The Team Canada Trade Mission to Australia was timed to align with the Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum, which highlighted the longstanding ties and opportunities to grow the trade and investment relationship between the two nations.
US Cyber Security Trade Program webinar series
Global Victoria delivered a four-part series as part of its broader US Cybersecurity Trade Program, designed to strengthen Victorian cybersecurity companies’ knowledge and engagement with the USA market, unlocking opportunities for exporters.
Sessions covered the following topics:
Webinar 1: Cybersecurity in the USA – Introduction to the US Market
Webinar 2: Defence-in-depth – US-Victoria Forum
Webinar 3: The US Business Perspective - Industry Engagement for Cybersecurity Companies
Webinar 4: Geographies of Cybersecurity – Exploring US Clusters
Access the full suite of webinar recordings
Working with Victorian beauty brands, looking at international expansion
The US beauty market is highly competitive and home to some of the world’s largest beauty corporations.
Global Victoria is currently delivering a program with innovative Victorian beauty brands ready to scale and grow in the North American market in a variety of retail options, including specialty beauty stores, department stores, and online stores.
Based in our New York VGTI office, Global Victoria’s Trade Manager for beauty, wellness and personal care provides Victorian companies with invaluable insights on market entry strategies, retail distribution, industry trends and data, equipping them with the tools for sustainable growth.
Forward look
CIM Connect 2025: Global Victoria is leading a trade mission to the CIM Connect conference in Montreal, Canada (4-7 May 2025), in partnership with Austmine. CIM Connect is Canada's premier mining trade event, with this year’s theme focused on Minerals, Innovation, and the Energy Transition.
BIO International Convention 2025: Global Victoria’s largest trade mission to the USA is aligned with the BIO International convention (16-19 June). BIO 2025 is the leading and most comprehensive event for biotechnology, representing the full ecosystem of biotech with 20,000 industry leaders from across the globe. Reach out to our team to find out more information on how you can connect with the 70+ Victorian organisations that will be coming to Boston in June.
The Lambassador Initiative is a global project that identifies influential food professionals who are passionate about cooking with Australian lamb. The selected chefs partner with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) on a voluntary basis and work together to raise awareness of Australian Lamb around the world. Global Victoria is working with MLA on a Lambassador event being held in New York City in June 2025.
World Chambers Congress: The 14th World Chambers Congress will be held in Melbourne 2-4 September 2025. The congress will bring together global leaders across government, business and chambers to discuss key issues and opportunities for businesses globally. Up to 2,000 international delegates are expected to attend, providing a platform to connect with new global networks. Following the Melbourne event, the 15th World Chambers Congress will be held in Toronto in September 2027.
The 2025 World Indigenous Business Forum (WIBF): Held in Melbourne from 28-30 October, the WIBF 2025 event is being organised by the Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Indigenous Leadership Development Institute Inc. (ILDII), an Indigenous run not-for-profit organisation located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Follow our USA and Canada team on LinkedIn
For regular updates on events and insights, follow our Victorian Government Trade and Investment office, USA & Canada LinkedIn
Previous regional insights
Key industries of opportunity for Victorian exporters
Health and Life Sciences
The U.S. life sciences industry represents the world’s largest health and life sciences market, fuelling worldwide innovation through massive investments providing capital to companies in the biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics sectors. While several potentially disruptive forces could reshape the life sciences industry in 2025, the U.S. remains the leading export market for the Victorian medical technologies and pharmaceuticals sector.
Beyond the U.S., there are growing collaborations between Canada and Australia that are helping to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative treatments and technologies, including in areas such as regenerative medicine and genomics.
We're helping Victorian companies connect to biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medtech, digital health, and healthcare services opportunities.
With Victoria’s leading bio-medical precincts, clinical trial capabilities, and thriving health and medtech startup ecosystems, we're seeing increased interest in partnerships between Victorian and North American organisations.
Food and beverage
The U.S. is Victoria’s largest export market for meat products (valued at over A$1.5 billion exports in FY2023-24).
Approximately half of Victoria’s merchandise exports to Canada are agricultural products (top exports including meat, fruit, nuts, and alcoholic beverages).
The U.S. and Canada offer Victorian food and beverage manufacturers diversification and expansion opportunities across a range of product categories, including specialty, premium and emerging categories, such as native foods and alternative proteins.
Defence
As outlined in Victoria’s Defence Vision Statement, defence and aerospace SMEs form a backbone of Victoria’s broader advanced manufacturing ecosystem, with over 2,500 businesses capable of providing goods and services for defence-related projects. Global Victoria’s defence specialist, based in Washington D.C. is available to assist Victorian companies to connect with key defence industry contacts and trade opportunities in the Americas.
The AUKUS agreement announced in 2021 offers major opportunities for Victorian companies. Our supply chain has key capabilities for this generational national endeavour, with competitive strengths for both AUKUS Pillars: (1) nuclear-powered submarines, and (2) advanced capabilities, such as cyber, AI, quantum and hypersonics.
Digital technologies
Digital technologies are a key accelerator and driver of economic growth.. The U.S. is the largest tech market in the world. Key tech clusters across the U.S. include the West Coast (San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Denver, Utah), New York, Austin and Miami. Key tech clusters in Canada include Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal and Waterloo.
Key sub-sectors include Cybersecurity, Sportstech, Fintech and Edtech plus the application of technologies such as robotics, digitalisation, blockchain and AI across industrial value chains.
Consumer products
The U.S. is the largest consumer market in the world. The rise of eCommerce and direct-to-consumer (DTC) models led by Gen Z and millennials is reshaping the industry.
Engaging with social media influencers is increasingly important to succeed in selling online in the U.S., and due to the sheer size of the market, companies should be aware that high volumes of products can be demanded by suppliers and distributors.
The US selective beauty industry is highly competitive, but home to some of the world’s largest beauty corporations. Victorian brands are well-positioned to meet the growing demand from Gen Z consumers for organic, natural, and ethically produced beauty products.
Advanced Manufacturing, Mining and METS
Manufacturing is a $39.2 billion industry and a cornerstone of the Victorian economy, providing a diverse range of jobs, boosting exports and contributing to economic growth. There are opportunities for Victorian companies to think innovatively, use advanced technologies, expand their research and development and create new partnerships and international connections.
Advanced manufacturing is cross-cutting and our team is exploring opportunities for Victorian companies related to additive manufacturing, mining, sustainability, water and climate technologies.
Canada is a leading mining jurisdiction and is a globally significant producer of platinum, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, titanium, uranium, potash and many rare earth elements. Many Victorian headquartered mining companies and Victorian METS are active in the region.
Contact us
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