http://thehill.com/policy/finance/385586-trump-delays-steel-tariffs-for-eu-other-us-allies-reports
President Trump has decided to delay a decision on implementing steel and aluminum tariffs for several close U.S. trading partners ahead of a looming midnight deadline.
Trump is delaying the decision for the European Union and other U.S. allies for an additional 30 days, the White House announced on Monday night. Countries have been in negotiation for weeks with the Trump administration in order to avoid steep tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum.
The countries have been left in suspense as the White House prepares to make its formal announcement.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told Bloomberg in a Saturday interview that the administration would extend the deadline for certain countries, but not all who have sought waivers from the tariffs.
The delay will give Trump administration officials more time to work out new deals that would address the U.S. national security concerns the administration cited for imposing the tariffs.
Negotiations will reportedly continue with the EU, Canada and Mexico for the next 30 days.
The administration has also reached agreements in principle on tariffs with Australia, Argentina and Brazil, which are expected to be completed in the next month, according to the White House statement.
The White House also finalized an agreement with South Korea, according to the statement. The deal is to exempt South Korea from the tariffs, the Journal reported.
Certain countries were granted a temporary exemption when the tariffs went into place March 23: Canada, Mexico, Australia, Brazil and Argentina, as well as the EU.
South Korea was given a permanent exemption as part of a reworking of the 2012 U.S.-South Korea trade agreement.
During Saturday's interview, Ross didn’t specify which countries would get an exemption.
Only a few hours before the deadline, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Fox Business on Monday that Trump had still not finalized his decision.
