President Donald Trump flags 25 per cent steel and aluminium tariffs
President Donald Trump is poised to announce 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports into the US.
Trump commented on a range of issues to reporters aboard Air Force One, while flying to the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday.
He said he would announce reciprocal tariffs on Tuesday or Wednesday, to take effect almost immediately.
“Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25 per cent tariff,” he told reporters.
When asked about aluminium, he responded, “aluminium, too” would be subject to the trade penalties.
Trump also reaffirmed that he would announce “reciprocal tariffs” —”probably Tuesday or Wednesday” — meaning that the US would impose import duties on products in cases where another country has levied duties on US goods.
“If they are charging us 130 per cent and we’re charging them nothing, it’s not going to stay that way,” he said.
During his first term Trump imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium, but later granted several trading partners, duty-free quotas, including Canada, Mexico, the EU and UK.
He also said the United States carried less debt that thought, and questioned whether there was fraud related to debt payments.
The US has $US36.2 ($A57.7) trillion public debt outstanding, according to the US Treasury, which plays a central role in the global financial system.
He also confirmed he was committed to buying and owning Gaza, but could give sections of the land to other states in the Middle East to help in the rebuilding effort.
He said he believed the US was making progress in its talks with Russia over the war in Ukraine but declined to provide details on a recent discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding he expects more conversations.
He also expressed doubts about the future of the US Agency for International Development and said he would let the State Department handle its remaining funding, suggesting that some of the agency’s staff could go there.
with AP
About The Author
