Australia on Wednesday said it was "really disappointing" U.S. President Donald Trump did not give it exemptions on steel and aluminium tariffs, but vowed to continue lobbying the U.S. administration for a reprieve.

Australia has failed to secure an exemption from US steel and aluminum tariffs despite a lobbying campaign by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government, in a blow to relations between the two longtime allies.

Former Labor senator Stephen Conroy argues that US President Donald Trump “never had any intention” to give Australia a tariff exemption.