The Turkish lira hit a record low on Aug. 10 after President Donald Trump authorized the doubling of tariffs on imports of Turkey’s steel and aluminum.
The currency slid nearly 8 percent in relation to the dollar to a record low of 6.59 shortly after Trump announced the increase on metals duties on Twitter.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan struck a defiant note in a series of Twitter messages shortly before Trump’s announcement.
State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters on Aug. 9 that the United States would define progress in relations with Turkey with Brunson’s return to the United States. Nauert declined to comment on ongoing negotiations.
Turkey has defied the United States on several fronts. Turkey’s energy minister announced on Aug. 8 that Turkey will keep buying liquid natural gas from Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions.
In June, the U.S. Senate passed a bill prohibiting Turkey from buying F-35 fighter jets because of Brunson’s imprisonment and Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defense system.
“As he stated, the President has authorized the preparation of documents to raise tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from Turkey,” said White House spokesperson Lindsay Walters.
“Section 232 tariffs are imposed on imports from particular countries whose exports threaten to impair national security as defined in Section 232, independent of negotiations on trade or any other matter.”
Friends Read Free