The US will not lift sanctions on Turkey’s steel and aluminium products even after detained pastor Andrew Brunson is released, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.
“The tariffs on steel would not be removed even with the release of pastor Brunson as they are specific to national security White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders told a press briefing.
Asked about the tariffs from Turkey, Sanders said ‘’it was regrettable and a step in the wrong direction,”
Speaking of Brunson’s case, she said, “We feel that Turkey and President Erdogan have treated pastor Brunson ‘’very unfairly, very badly.”
As for the Turkish economy, she said the US was monitoring the situation and the decline of the Turkish Lira (TL).
‘’Turkey’s economic problems are part of a long-term trend, something of its own making and not the result of any actions of the US.”
After calling for a boycott of US electronics goods on Tuesday,Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree to raise tariffs on US imports including cars, alcohol and tobacco, state-run Anadolu agency quoted Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan as saying on Wednesday.