Canberra/Washington | The US government readily accepted increased exports of Australian aluminium in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, contradicting claims by the Trump administration that a recent export surge was due to producers exploiting a tariff exemption granted in 2018.

Donald Trump’s senior trade adviser Peter Navarro accused Australia on Wednesday of “killing” America’s aluminium market and argued it should not be spared the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff. However, The Australian Financial Review was told the export surge in recent years had the blessing of the Biden administration after being proposed by Australia.