President Donald Trump on Thursday imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tax on imported aluminum in a push to build up national security and put an end to “aggressive foreign trade practices,†The Hill reported Sunday.Mexico and Canada would be exempted from the tariffs under Trump’s order.
A group of senators led by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) told Trump in a Thursday letter the tariffs would harm the country’s relationship with international partners that work to help the U.S. in its defense efforts and keep international stability.
Eric Fanning, president of the Aerospace Industries Association, said in a statement the 10 percent tax on aluminum “would create almost $2 billion in unnecessary costs to U.S. manufacturing.â€
Fanning, a 2018 Wash100 recipient, warned of trade retaliation risk on defense and aerospace products if the administration pushes with the tariffs and asked the president to reconsider the proposed policies, according to a report by SpaceNews.
Dean Hirasawa, a spokesman for the Satellite Industry Association, told the publication SIA will hold a meeting late Monday to discuss issues associated with the tariffs.
