They are strange times we live in, when Australia’s national carrier could soon return to London before flying Sydney to Perth.
Project Sunrise has been hailed as the holy grail for Qantas. 230 years since the first fleet set sail on a months long voyage, modern aviation has linked far flung corners of the globe.
Qantas set out a challenge to Boeing and Airbus to deliver an ultra long-haul jet capable of linking the east coast of Australia, namely Sydney and Melbourne, to New York or London. Hopefully with a good entertainment system to boot.
Project Sunrise route map from Australia’s east coast.
Project Sunrise setback
In May, Qantas announced that Sydney would be the first city to launch Project Sunrise.
Right now, m Australia is locked up, with Western Australia becoming the hermit kingdom, completely separated from Sydney and Melbourne.
While Qantas chief Alan Joyce fumed at the domestic border closures, it could be the airline’s international arm that drags the Qantas group back to profitability.
Throughout the pandemic, New South Wales has been the anti-lockdown state, preferring to focus on keeping business humming and reluctantly heading into lockdown.
New South Wales residents are fast on their way to receiving 6 million vaccination jabs, seemingly hungry to reopen despite the rise in cases to above 1000 per day for the first time during the pandemic.
It’s the same strategy used by the UK, and requires a leader who can hold their ground despite rising case numbers.
In Australia, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is the closest you can get to the British PM.
A Qantas 787 Dreamliner
Freedom day
And just like the UK, may look to a freedom day whereby restrictions are dropped once the population hits the 80% vaccination mark. NSW is among the fastest in the world to take up the vaccine in recent weeks.
Governments with the means to verify the authenticity of tests or vaccinations and the identity of those presenting their certificates.
Airlines with the ability to provide accurate information to their passengers on test requirements and verify that a passenger meets the requirements for travel.
Laboratories with the means to issue certificates to passengers that will be recognized by governments, and
Travelers with accurate information on test requirements, where they can get tested or vaccinated, and the means to securely convey the results/certificates to airlines and border authorities
That could see Qantas almost do the unthinkable opening up travel from Australia to London before internal borders are open.
A sign of how far Australia has come, or how far it has to go.
Donald Trump’s trade tariffs could negatively disrupt Australia’s economy, impacting exports like beef and canola oil amid global trade tensions.
In Short
Trump’s trade tariffs threaten Australian exports, notably canola oil and beef, with China’s retaliatory export curbs exacerbating the situation.
A full trade war could drastically impact Australia’s iron ore industry and currency stability, complicating its trade relations amidst rising global competition.
Donald Trump’s new trade tariffs could have adverse effects on Australian exports, including canola oil, beef, and critical minerals.
China has implemented retaliatory export curbs on metals essential for technology, raising concerns as China controls much of the global supply. While the US may seek alternatives in countries like Australia for strategic minerals, tensions with Canada complicate this shift.
However, a full-scale trade war would negatively impact Australia’s largest commodity export, iron ore. A weakening Chinese economy could reduce demand for steel-making materials, harming Australia’s trade interests. Trump’s potential expansion of tariffs on aluminium and steel poses additional risks to local manufacturers amid fears of cheap imports undermining the market.
The beef industry could also face disruption. As the US cattle herd declines, tariffs might disrupt Australian beef exports, leading to price hikes. Conversely, Canada could increase canola exports to non-US markets, intensifying competition for Australian oilseed farmers.
Furthermore, the recent tariff announcements have caused fluctuations in the Australian dollar, which hit low levels against the US dollar initially. Subsequent relief for Canada and Mexico caused a brief recovery, yet ongoing tariff disputes could negatively impact the currency’s stability.
Trump’s new 10% tariff on Chinese imports could raise prices for electronics, clothing, cars, and home appliances in the US.
In Short
President Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on imports from China, potentially increasing costs for US consumers on electronics, clothing, cars, and appliances. The National Retail Federation urges negotiations to mitigate price hikes while analysts predict significant increases in product prices.
President Donald Trump has implemented an additional 10% tariff on imports from China, which could potentially rise further.
This move is likely to result in higher prices for various goods in the US, particularly consumer electronics, clothing and textiles, cars, and home appliances.
In 2023, the US imported $427 billion worth of goods from China. Notably, consumer electronics sales included substantial imports of cellphones and laptops. The Consumer Technology Association estimates that tariffs could raise laptop prices by up to 68%, video game consoles by 58%, and smartphones by 37%.
In clothing and textiles, imports amounted to $19.6 billion in 2023. Retailers may increase prices of apparel and accessories due to these tariffs.
Cars are affected as well, with US imports of car parts valued at $14.6 billion. Analysts suggest that domestic automakers sourcing parts from China may be compelled to raise prices.
Home appliances also face price increases. The National Retail Federation projected that the average price of a basic fridge could rise from $650 to $776.
The NRF has urged all parties to negotiate solutions to strengthen trade relations and avoid passing costs on to American consumers.