After announcing a plan for ascending tariffs on Mexican imports last week to curb illegal immigration, the Trump administration also considered levying tariffs on Australia in response to a surge of Australian aluminum in U.S. markets, according to a report from the New York Times.
Some of President Trump’s top trade advisers had urged the tariffs as a response to a surge of Australian aluminum flowing onto the American market over the past year. But officials at the Defense and State Departments told Mr. Trump the move would alienate a top ally and could come at significant cost to the United States.