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The Conversation
The Conversation
Felicity Deane, Professor, Queensland University of Technology

Is Australia’s GST a tax or a tariff? And why has it become a target in the trade wars?

Australian beef exports to the United States are GST-free and should not be subject to any retaliatory tariff. William Edge/Shutterstock

The latest round of proposed tariffs from US President Donald Trump includes a response to what the White House describes as “unfair” taxes – specifically, value-added taxes such as Australia’s Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Most economically advanced countries have a value-added tax (VAT) or sales tax on consumption. This applies to domestic goods and services as well as to imports. The United States is one of the few countries that does not impose a sales tax, though many of the states impose their own sales tax.

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