Australian government scrambles to secure exemptions to Trump’s 25% tariff on steel imports

Ministers were seeking return of Turnbull-era exemptions ahead of US president's announcement of new duties on steel and aluminium

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The Australian government is still trying to secure exemptions to new 25% tariffs that Donald Trump says will be imposed on all steel and aluminium imported into the US, making the case for free and fair trade" with America.

President Trump told reporters on Monday that he would impose tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the US, on top of existing metal duties. When asked which countries would be subject to the trade barriers, Trump replied: Everybody."

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