Trump administration has ‘deep-seated’ belief in tariffs, says Kevin Rudd

Australia’s ambassador to the US tells ABC’s 7.30 that he has ‘thrown everything’ at trying to get an exemption to levies

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Kevin Rudd, Australia’s ambassador to the US, has vowed to keep fighting for a tariff carve out, but warned the current administration is “protectionist” and “transactional”.

Rudd told the ABC’s 7.30 program on Thursday night that negotiating to exempt Australia from a 25% tariff on aluminium and steel imports to the US has been “tough”.

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