Peter Dutton’s pitch to link deeper defence co-operation with the removal of Donald Trump’s 10 per cent tariffs on Australian goods would be hard to sell given the White House has decoupled security policy from trade, the principal author of Australia’s current strategic planning document said.

United States Studies Centre director of foreign policy and defence Peter Dean said US policymakers had long resisted Australian efforts to link steadfast military support for America with more favourable treatment on trade.