Australia’s US Trade Ripoff: Punished With Tariffs And Bankrolling Dodgy Billionaires

Last year, Australians sent nearly $50 billion to the US for stuff we bought from - Maccas, Netflix, Nike, Amazon, Tesla, Boeing and other dodgy American corporations. No wonder the US churns out so many billionaire bullies - we’re funding them.

But here’s the real kicker, the US bought far less from us. In fact, for every dollar Australia sends to the US, we only get 50 cents back. That’s not a trade relationship - it’s a rip-off. And that was before Trump’s tariff tantrums.

Here’s what’s really going on - and why Australians need to wake up and rethink how we spend our money.

How Much Are We Sending the US?

In 2023, Australia imported $65.1 billion worth of goods and services from the US, while only exporting $33.6 billion in return. That’s a trade deficit of $31.5 billion - money that flows out of Australia and into the pockets of US corporations for things like Teslas, military equipment, Netflix, Amazon, Nikes, Levis etc. The result? The US gets our raw materials, then sells us back overpriced finished products and tech services.

How the US Wins - And We Lose

Our trade imbalance with the US isn’t just about numbers. It harms Australian jobs, wages, industry, and economic independence.

❌ Less Manufacturing, More Dependence – Australia’s reliance on US imports means we’re not producing enough of our own goods and services - leading to fewer local jobs and wages stagnating.

❌ Money Leaves, Wealth Concentrates – Every dollar we send to the US boosts Donald Trump and his billionaires while small Aussie businesses struggle.

❌ We’re Stuck With American Influence – Trade ties give the US power over our economy. It’s why Trump thinks he can bully us with tariffs or sanctions whenever he likes.

What Can We Do?

In Europe and Canada, governments are waking up and starting to disconnect from the US - economically and strategically. But here, Albo is still sitting quiet and awkward like he does on many thorny issues. And Peter Dutton wants to be Australia’s Trump! That said, at individual and local levels, we can control where and how we spend our money.

✅ Support Aussie-Owned Businesses – Buy Australian-made clothing, food, and products instead of automatically defaulting to US brands. Check out my blogs [links below] on what to avoid and what to buy instead in the supermarket aisles.

✅ Choose Ethical International Alternatives – If you buy from overseas, support New Zealand, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Canada offer better quality, better labour standards, and fairer trade relationships.

✅ Cancel US-Owned Subscriptions – Netflix, Disney+, and Apple Music don’t need more of your money. Instead, try Stan (Aussie-owned) or free ABC iView and SBS On Demand.

✅ Think Before You Buy – Ask who owns the brand before you purchase. Avoid Amazon, Uber, Heinz, Kelloggs, Starbucks, Maccas and other exploitative US corporations.

The US doesn’t need more of our money. But Aussie workers, businesses, and industries do.

💬 What’s one US brand or service you’ve switched away from recently? Drop a comment below! I’ve stopped buying Macca’s coffee and am starting to wean myself off US tech and streaming services.

🔗 Related Reads:

📌 10 US Companies to Avoid Beyond the Supermarket – And What to Use Instead

📌 20 American Supermarket Products to Avoid – And What to Buy Instead

Photo from Nine News.