Australia vows retaliation against President Trump's 15% global tariff hike, escalating tensions between key allies. Trade Minister Don Farrell condemned the move as 'unjustified,' signaling potential WTO disputes or reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods. This sudden 5% increase from the initial 10% proposal, following a Supreme Court ruling invalidating previous tariffs, threatens Australian exports like iron ore and LNG. The Australian Dollar (AUD) plunged to 0.35% against the USD as markets reacted to the trade uncertainty. WTO action is a key option under consideration by Canberra as it assesses the economic damage to its trade balance. Australia's strategic importance to the U.S. energy and defense sectors makes this confrontation significant, potentially impacting multi-billion dollar negotiations.