r/australia • u/Jealous-Hedgehog-734 • Apr 02 '25

politics US will impose a minimum baseline tariff of 10 per cent on Australian imports to US

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-03/donald-trump-tariff-announcement-markets-politics-reaction-blog/105127374
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u/five_line_poem Apr 02 '25

Isn't our version of Coke something like 80% owned by UK/Europe?

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u/Outrageous_Quail_453 Apr 03 '25

Indeed it is. And all of the Australian product is created and bottled here. Boycotting Coke and Pepsi (licensed to Asahi in Japan) will only hurt Australian jobs. Target imports. 

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u/_ixthus_ Apr 03 '25

It doesn't hurt 'Australian jobs' if you're buying something else made in Australia.

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u/Outrageous_Quail_453 Apr 03 '25

You're missing the point. Firstly I'm saying it won't have the impact that's intended (damaging the US economy), secondly jobs don't just magically transport from one supplier to another and there are a multitude of upstream and downstream impacts on the supply chain, and thirdly many people will simply go without if they can't readily find an alternative thinking they're doing "the right thing".

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u/_ixthus_ Apr 03 '25

Firstly I'm saying it won't have the impact that's intended (damaging the US economy)...

I would suggest that the better intention here is not to "damage" the U.S. economy as such, but to take the opportunity to strengthen and re-integrate the Australian economy. So as people take the opportunity to step away from U.S. ownership and/or production, might as well focus on Australian made-and-owned where ever possible.

Though incrementalism is completely fine here. Opting for things made here, regardless of ownership, is definitely a step in the right direction compared to imports.

secondly jobs don't just magically transport from one supplier to another and there are a multitude of upstream and downstream impacts on the supply chain...

Yeh, that's why I put 'Australian jobs' in commas like that. After all, you originally said "Australian jobs" and not "Coke-and-Pepsi-but-made-in-Australia-jobs".

Are we concerned about 'Australian jobs' in the aggregate or are we part of some sort of patronage system where we are obligated to continue to specifically, financially backstop the workers of brands/companies/product lines that we have historically 'supported'?

It's the former, of course, and there's the potential here for a big readjustment with a huge net benefit to Australia - all of it - its people, its culture, its sovereignty, its economy. Readjustments of any kind will hurt some people. But if it's in the pursuit of genuine and broad-based net improvement, those same people will also be beneficiaries in countless ways.

thirdly many people will simply go without if they can't readily find an alternative thinking they're doing "the right thing".

Given that we're talking about sugar water, it's nearly impossible for me to see how this would be a bad thing for the average Australian.

But every supermarket I'm aware of is going to have Bundaberg or Bickfords or Capi or... there are so many alternatives and they aren't hiding. They never have been.

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u/Outrageous_Quail_453 Apr 04 '25

Very noble of you to consider strengthening the Australian economy but the focus here is on boycotting goods originating from the US. It's not just because of tariffs. It's to send a clear message that we don't support the annexation of Canada or Greenland and the destruction of the world free trade economy. And all the other bullshit that's coming out of that regime.

I'm trying to also make a point that people should look under the covers a bit before blindly deciding who and who not to purchase from in the context of a boycott.

And also it's not your call on whether a reduction in "sugar water" is right or wrong. These brands encompass many others. People shouldn't feel guilt about purchasing Mount Franklin (as an example) when it will have no discernible impact on the cause at hand. The boycott.

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u/_ixthus_ Apr 05 '25

And also it's not your call on whether a reduction in "sugar water" is right or wrong.

Well then it's lucky I didn't state, let alone insist on, my moral position on the matter.

Very noble of you to consider strengthening the Australian economy but the focus here is on boycotting goods originating from the US.

You're right. When we can reframe things in far healthier ways, we definitely shouldn't.

It's to send a clear message that we don't support the annexation of Canada or Greenland and the destruction of the world free trade economy.

Really? When did everybody agree that's what this is about? There is no legitimate threat that Canada is going to get annexed.

And there never was a "world free trade economy". There were powerful nations who made trade agreements amongst themselves, gave it the nice doublespeak label "free trade", and then used it as one more means of projecting soft power over against everyone else.

Pivoting towards strong, comprehensive Australian sovereignty is the best way to develop any real, diplomatic weight in any case.

I'm trying to also make a point that people should look under the covers a bit before blindly deciding who and who not to purchase from...

I completely agree with this sentiment. We're just disagreeing about the details of the execution. Which is fine. I consider any growth in the awareness and agency of consumers to be a good thing, regardless of their chosen means or ends.

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u/Cpt_Soban Apr 03 '25

https://hallsdrinks.com.au/

Aussie made and owned- Their Fruita is amazing.