US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all foreign steel and aluminum imports to the United States, the White House press service reported.
The decision does not provide for any exceptions. Trump nevertheless admitted that he could make an exception for Australia, but not for Argentina and the United Kingdom.
“This is a big deal – to make America great again“, Trump said when signing the documents.
“It is time to bring our great industry back to America“, the president said.
Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum on February 9. The EU responded to these statements by confirming its readiness to take countermeasures. Such signals were publicly sent to Washington by the heads of the French and Spanish foreign ministries, Jean-Noel Barrot and José Manuel Álvarez.
Trump had previously warned that the United States intended to impose tariffs on shipments to the country of microchips and related products, as well as oil, gas, steel, aluminum and copper. The US President did not specify at the time which countries' products could be affected by the planned protectionist measures.