President Donald Trump spoke just before signing the Section 232 proclamations that will put tariffs on foreign-made steel and aluminum.
“We have to protect and build our steel and aluminum industries, while at the same time showing great flexibility and cooperation toward those that are really friends of ours both on a trade basis and a military basis,” the president said.
On one side of President Trump stood ten steel and aluminum workers from Pittsburgh and Kentucky. On the other side were Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and economic adviser Peter Navarro.
The tariffs will go into effect in 15 days, but Mexico and Canada are exempt from the tariffs while NAFTA is renegotiated.
