TRADE WAR

No Exemptions for Trump's Steel Tariffs, Says Wilbur Ross

“The decision obviously is his, but as of the moment as far as I know he’s talking about a fairly broad brush.”

President Trump has already spoken to world leaders about his proposed steel and aluminum tariffs and made clear he would not budge on providing exemptions, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Sunday. “The decision obviously is his, but as of the moment as far as I know he’s talking about a fairly broad brush. I have not heard him describe particular exemptions just yet,” Ross told ABC's This Week. Speaking on CNN, top White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said “particular cases” might warrant an exemption, but there would be no “country exclusions” to allow entire nations to avoid the tariffs. Trump on Thursday announced the new tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on imported aluminum, a move world leaders have warned will spark a global trade war. A formal announcement on the measure is expected this week or next week.