Trump says he won’t ‘bend’ on tariffs on aluminum, steel, cars


By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Yonhap) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he won’t “bend” on tariffs on steel, aluminum or cars, as claims of policy inconsistency lingered due to his administration’s recent adjustments to the imposition of levies on Canadian and Mexican goods.

He made the remarks during a press availability, reiterating claims that the United States has been “ripped off” by trading partners for long, as he sat next to North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House for talks.

“We are not going to be ripped off anymore,” he said. “No. I’m not going to bend at all … aluminum or steel or cars. We are not going to bend,” he said.

President Donald Trump talks as he meets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House in Washington on March 13, 2025 in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

President Donald Trump talks as he meets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House in Washington on March 13, 2025 in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

He was responding to a reporter’s question of whether he will bend on tariffs on the two metals as well as country-by-country “reciprocal” tariffs that he plans to roll out on April 2 to match what other countries levy on American products.

South Korea has been bracing for the potential repercussions of reciprocal tariffs, which are to be pegged to U.S. trading partners’ duties, non-tariff barriers and other elements, including exchange rate policies.

Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports went into effect on Wednesday, as he has been using tariffs as a tool to pare down America’s trade deficits, bolster domestic manufacturing and address other policy challenges, including the inflow of undocumented migrants and illicit drugs.

sshluck@yna.co.kr
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