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Kevin Hogan says Australia should use more of its “leverage points” to negotiate an exemption from the Trump administration’s trade tariffs.

The Coalition MP has been speaking on ABC Radio National Breakfast, a few days after the US announced it would reject Australia’s plea to be exempt from 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

We have some great critical minerals that are very important to them, especially some that they can’t access.

We actually believe we have more leverage points with America now [than] a few years ago.

That’s how Trump … operates. And it’s very disappointing that our leader hasn’t found the will to go over and do that.

A strong leader would make sure that they got that meeting.