Scott Morrison plays down report US planning tariffs on Australian aluminium

Trump administration reportedly considered taxing imports of the metal over concerns they had grown too quickly

The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison has downplayed - but not denied - speculation the United States considered placing trade tariffs on Australian aluminium imports last week.

The New York Times reported that the Trump administration had discussed placing tariffs on Australian aluminium, which, under a deal struck by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, remains exempt from tariffs Donald Trump placed on metal imports to the US in 2018.

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