Trump doubles tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum, says relations 'not good'

US President Donald Trump has announced to double steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey, saying relations between Washington and Ankara “not good” as tensions mount between the two countries.

"I have just authorized a doubling of Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum with respect to Turkey as their currency, the Turkish Lira, slides rapidly downward against our very strong Dollar!" Trump said on Twitter.

“Aluminum will now be 20 percent and Steel 50 percent. Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!" he added.

The United States is the world's biggest steel importer. Washington slapped tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum in March for imports from several countries, including Turkey.

Trump's announcement came shortly after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called on Turks to help defend the country against the US-launched economic war against his nation.  Erdogan appealed to Turks to exchange dollars and gold for Turkish lira to support the plunging currency.

The lira plunged to as low as 6 against the US dollar on Friday, a day after a Turkish delegation returned from talks in Washington with no apparent solutions to their simmering crisis.

PressTV-President Erdogan: US has dollars, 'we have our God'

Turkey’s President Erdogan has brushed off concerns over the plunging lira as the currency hit a new record low amid political tensions with the United States.

Erdogan said that there were "various campaigns being carried out" against the country.

Turkey vows retaliation 

In response, the Turkish Trade Ministry said on Friday that additional steel and aluminium tariffs were against the rules of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO).

"Turkey expects other member countries to abide by international rules," the ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the country's Foreign Ministry said that such a move "will be harming our relationship as allies," noting, "As with all measures taken against Turkey, the necessary response will be given."

Relations between the two NATO allies have taken a turn for the worse amid dispute over the detention in Turkey of US evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson on terrorism charges. 

Trump wrote on Twitter late last month that his country "will impose large sanctions on Turkey for their long time detainment of Pastor Andrew Brunson.”

Erdogan responded by announcing to freeze the assets in Turkey of US ministers of "justice and interior," in tit-for-tat response to US sanctions.

Ankara and Washington also disagree over their military interventions in the Syria war, Turkey's plan to buy missile defense systems from Russia and the US conviction of a Turkish state bank executive on sanctions-busting charges in January.

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