Trump: Tariffs Exempt For “Great Nation Of Australia” – EU, Japan Demand Similar Treatment

||| Credit - Twitter @Tank9999 |||

Countries around the world were quick to contact the US after the import tariffs on aluminium and steel were signed off on, going into force in two weeks. US President Donald Trump stated that NAFTA allies Mexico and Canada could profit from exemptions pending a new deal (for Canada, the biggest supplier of steel imported by the United States, this would indeed be needed to protect its industry).

The first country to be granted an exemption, however, became known yesterday via Mr Trump’s twitter feed.

US president Donald Trump stated that he “spoke to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia. He is committed to having a very fair and reciprocal military and trade relationship. Working very quickly on a security agreement so we don’t have to impose steel or aluminum tariffs on our ally, the great nation of Australia!”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Spoke to PM <a href="https://twitter.com/TurnbullMalcolm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TurnbullMalcolm</a> of Australia. He is committed to having a very fair and reciprocal military and trade relationship. Working very quickly on a security agreement so we don’t have to impose steel or aluminum tariffs on our ally, the great nation of Australia!</p>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/972242845636669440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Meanwhile, Japan and the EU are looking for similar exemptions. Germany’s Chancellor Ms Angela Merkel claimed that "talks must be the preference right now," whilst at the same time admitting that "the best would be if we are exempt."

French President Emmanuel Macron, who is heading to India this weekend, said that the tariffs "risk setting off a trade war in which all the countries involved would be the losers."

Lastly, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga claimed that Japanese steel and aluminium were beneficial to employment and industry in the US whilst any change to this "could have a grave impact on the economic relationship" between the two countries.

Source:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/972242845636669440