PO Box 3043
Murrumbateman, NSW 2582, Australia
The PC’s Trade and Assistance Review (TAR) has measured the costs of tariffs, industry policy and other trade measures on the Australian economy for over 50 years. The TAR’s importance has only increased with the trade chaos caused by President Trump and the revival of industry policy in Australia and elsewhere. In this episode of TPD, Pru and Peter speak to special guest Alex Robson, Deputy Chair of the Australian Productivity Commission, about the role of the PC and the key findings in this year’s TAR.
They traverse the PC’s assessment of the impact of US tariffs, its advice Australia remove nuisance tariffs, the challenges of modelling uncertainty, and how the PC’s economic assessments sit with national security and climate policy objectives. It ends with Alex very firmly keeping his PC hat on and providing his views on the upcoming Australian Government’s Productivity Roundtables.
Recorded on 8 August 2025. Check it out HERE.
