Trump’s tariffs still set to hit allies
Tax on imported metal to begin soon
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration appeared unbowed by broad domestic and international criticism of his planned import tariffs on steel and aluminum, saying Sunday that the president is not planning on exempting any countries, including allies, from the stiff duties.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said: “At this point in time there’s no country exclusions.”
But Mr. Navarro and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross — the apparent winners of an internal administration battle over the tariffs issue — also said that some exemptions could be made down the road.
Mr. Trump’s announcement Thursday that he would impose tariffs of 25 percent and 10 percent, respectively, on imported steel and aluminum, roiled markets, rankled allies and raised prospects for a trade war. While his rhetoric has been focused on China, the duties will also cover significant imports from Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Japan and the European Union.
Mr. Navarro and Mr. Ross expect the president to follow up swiftly on his Thursday announcement.
The Pentagon had recommended that Mr. Trump only pursue targeted tariffs, so as not to upset American partners abroad amid national-security concerns. But Mr. Ross said Sunday that was not the direction the president would take. Mr. Trump has instead invoked national security as a reason to press ahead with the tariffs.
“He’s talking about a fairly broad brush,” Mr. Ross said on ABC’s “This Week.” He rejected threats of retaliation from American allies as “pretty trivial.”
“We’re talking about a fraction of a penny,” on the impact on American consumers, Mr. Ross said on NBC’s “Meet the Press. “Retaliation isn’t going to change the price on a can of beer.”
And making trade allowances for good friends, Mr. Navarro contended on “Fox News Sunday,” was impractical: “As soon as he starts exempting countries [from the tariffs], he has to raise the tariff on everybody else.”
But Mr. Navarro also suggested that Mr. Trump could, indeed, grant exceptions if doing so would serve U.S. interests.
“There’s a difference between exemptions and country exclusions,” said the trade adviser. “There’ll be an exemption procedure for particular cases where you need to have exemptions so that business can move forward.”
And Mr. Ross said that although he does not expect Mr. Trump to change his mind, he does not rule it out.
Mr. Trump is expected to sign an order for the tariffs within the next two weeks — perhaps “by the end of the week” — after all legalities are finalized, Mr. Navarro said.
The president, who often doubles down in the face of criticism, has seemingly been unmoved by allies’ warnings that they would be forced to retaliate. More admonitions came in Sunday, as the British Embassy reported that Prime Minister Theresa May spoke with Mr. Trump by phone and raised “deep concern” over the tariffs.
Ms. May told Mr. Trump that “multilateral action was the only way to resolve the problem of global overcapacity in all parties’ interests,” according to the British statement.
The White House did not offer its own account of the conversation between the two leaders, whose relations have suffered periodic strains.
Few issues could blur the lines of partisanship in Trump-era Washington. Trade is one of them. Labor unions and liberal Democrats are in the unusual position of applauding Mr. Trump’s approach, while Republicans and an array of business groups are warning of dire economic and political consequences if he goes ahead with the tariffs.