Trump turns screw on Turkey amid diplomatic row

President vows to double metal tariffs on country after talks over detained American break down

Ben Riley-smith and Kristina Jovanovski in Istanbul DONALD TRUMP unexpectedly doubled metal tariffs against Turkey yesterday, inflaming tensions with a Nato ally and sending the country’s currency spiralling downwards. The US president announced in a tweet that tariffs on steel imports from Turkey would rise to 50 per cent and on aluminium imports to 20 per cent.

The pledge was made after talks broke down over the release of Andrew Brunson, a US pastor, who is in Turkey facing trial for espionage and terrorrelated charges.

After the announcement the embattled Turkish lira tumbled more than 16 per cent to a new record low against the dollar yesterday. The currency has fallen more than 40 per cent this year, fanning worries about a full-blown economic crisis.

Mr Trump referenced the fact the lira had been sliding “rapidly downward” against the dollar in his tweet announcing the news, adding: “Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!”

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish president, was defiant yesterday, urging citizens to cash in their foreign currency for lira and pledging to win the trade war that had broken out. “If you have dollars, euros or gold under your pillow, go to banks to exchange them for Turkish lira. It is a national fight,” Mr Erdoğan said.

He blamed Turkey’s woes on an “interest rate lobby” seeking to push the country to higher rates.

Tensions between America and Turkey have been ratcheting up in recent months, despite the latter being a critical ally for the US’S military engagement in the Middle East. Mr Trump is demanding the return of Mr Brunson, who is accused of being involved in the failed coup to overthrow the Turkish government in 2016. The US government has dismissed the claims against the evangelical Presbyterian pastor as baseless and without evidence. Mr Erdoğan is in turn demanding the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, an exiled cleric living in Pennsylvania whom the Turkish government accuses of being behind the coup attempt. America has refused.

Talks to secure Mr Brunson’s release have reportedly been going on in recent weeks but they appear to have stalled. Sanctions on Turkey were announced earlier this month over Mr Brunson’s case before being increased by Mr Trump yesterday.

Mr Trump’s frustration towards the Turkish leader is in contrast to their personal relations earlier in his presidency. The US president has called Mr Erdoğan a “friend of mine” and reportedly fist-bumped him during a meeting.

The White House sought to clarify the tweet yesterday, saying Mr Trump has “authorised the preparation of documents”, suggesting the tariffs could yet be avoided.