Donald Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro has accused Australia of dumping subsidised, below-cost aluminium into the United States and drawn comparisons to the behaviour of Russia and China, amid rising concern the Albanese government will fail to secure an exemption from tariffs.

Just days after Treasurer Jim Chalmers visited Washington to plead the government’s case for a carve-out from 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium, the staunch protectionist whose goal is to bolster American manufacturing said ending country-specific exemptions “sends a clear message”.