Trump, Paul Ryan at odds over tariffs on steel, aluminum

WASHINGTON – President Trump said Monday he is moving ahead with tariffs on imported aluminum and steel despite calls from House Speaker Paul Ryan to avoid creating what Ryan called an unnecessary trade war.

“We are extremely worried about the consequences of a trade war and are urging the White House to not advance with this plan,” said AshLee Strong, Ryan’s spokeswoman. “The new tax reform law has boosted the economy, and we certainly don’t want to jeopardize those gains.”

“We’re not backing down” on tariffs, Trump said in remarks before a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We had a very bad deal with Mexico, we had a very bad deal with NAFTA,” the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada.

Trump started his week with tweets that said he may end the tariffs on Mexico and Canada in exchange for better terms in the talks to renew NAFTA.

Trump did not provide many details in a pair of tweets, except to say that Canada “must treat our farmers much better,” while Mexico “must do much more on stopping drugs from pouring into” the United States. “NAFTA, which is under renegotiation right now, has been a bad deal for U.S.A.,” Trump tweeted. “Massive relocation of companies & jobs. Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum will only come off if new & fair NAFTA agreement is signed.”

Contrary to Trump’s claims, the United States has a trade surplus with Canada. Canada is also the top exporter of steel and aluminum to the United States, and the biggest importer of American steel and aluminum.

Trump’s tweets kicked off a week in which he plans to sign new tariffs of 25% on steel imports and 10% on aluminum imports, a move that has drawn criticism from economists who say it will spark a trade war and higher prices for consumers worldwide.

President Trump