Following the announcement made by the White House that the Trump administration plans to initially exclude Canada and Mexico from the 25 percent import tariffs on steel and aluminum, an exemption they would gain in line with the NAFTA agreement with the US, Turkish Steel Exporters' Association (CIB) chairman Namik Ekinci has stated that the US stands on a threshold that could lead to a world trade war and that it would be wrong for the US to exempt Canada and Mexico from the duties and implement tariffs for other countries. Mr. Ekinci emphasized that all countries should be equally treated.
According to the CIB chairman, Turkey’s steel exports to the US will continue even if the US imposes 25 percent duty on steel imports from all countries. He indicated that that the proposed law has been unacceptable from the beginning; however, it is even more unacceptable to exempt some countries and impose tariffs on others. He went on to say that, if the exemptions are made for Canada and Mexico, Turkey will be out of the picture as long as the tariffs are valid and this will harm the relationship between Turkey and the US.
In addition, Mr. Ekinci stated that Turkey will also take necessary measures, adding that Turkey’s Ministry of Economy has already agreed to act in unison with the EU before the World Trade Organization (WTO) in relation to the US tariffs.