US threatens more Turkey sanctions

Ankara says it will respond in kind to any new trade tariffs

Turkey and the United States exchanged new threats of sanctions yesterday, keeping alive a diplomatic and financial crisis that is threatening the economic stability of the Nato country.

Turkey’s lira fell once again after the trade minister, Ruhsar Pekcan, said Friday that her government would respond to any new trade duties, which US President Donald Trump threatened in an overnight tweet.

Trump is taking issue with the continued detention in Turkey of American pastor Andrew Brunson, an evangelical pastor who faces 35 years in prison on charges of espionage and terror-related charges.

Trump wrote in a tweet late Thursday: “We will pay nothing for the release of an innocent man, but we are cutting back on Turkey!”

He also urged Brunson to serve as a “great patriot hostage” while he is jailed and criticised Turkey for “holding our wonderful Christian Pastor.”

US Treasury chief Steve Mnuchin earlier said the US could put more sanctions on Turkey. The United States has already imposed sanctions on two Turkish government ministers and doubled tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminium imports.

Turkey retaliated with some $533 million of tariffs on some US imports — including cars, tobacco and alcoholic drinks — and said it would boycott US electronic goods. “We have responded to (US sanctions) in accordance to World Trade Organisation rules and will continue to do so,” Pekcan told reporters yesterday.