Donald Trump reveals steel tariffs and signals Australia will be exempt

John Kehoe, Phillip Coorey, Michael Smith and James Thomson

Updated Mar 9, 2018 – 1.48pm, first published at 8.23am

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The Turnbull government is all but certain steel and aluminium exports will be spared tariffs after US President Donald Trump unveiled his plans and indicated close defence allies including Australia will ultimately be exempted.

In an announcement at the White House, President Trump confirmed the levies would be imposed at a rate for 25 per cent for steel and 10 per cent for aluminium but individual nations would have 15 days to argue for an exemption based on their security and trading relationship.

John Kehoe is economics editor at Parliament House, Canberra. He writes on economics, politics and business. John was Washington correspondent covering Donald Trump’s first election. He joined the Financial Review in 2008 from Treasury.

Phillip Coorey is the political editor based in Canberra. He is a two-time winner of the Paul Lyneham award for press gallery excellence.

Michael Smith is the health editor for The Australian Financial Review. He is based in Sydney.

James Thomson is senior Chanticleer columnist based in Melbourne. He was the Companies editor and editor of BRW Magazine.