President Donald Trump's plan to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports may include "carve-outs" for Canada, Mexico, and other countries "based on national security," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday.
"That would be on a case-by-case and country-by-country basis, but it would be determined if there's a national security exemption," she said at the daily briefing with reporters.
Trump is expected to take formal action to impose tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum after announcing them in a meeting last week with industry leaders.
The president's disclosure set off a maelstrom on many fronts, including a brief drop in Wall Street trading; widespread criticism from fellow Republicans and economists; and threats of punitive duties on American products from the European Union and other nations.
Trump also said Wednesday that China was asked to develop a plan to reduce its U.S. trade surplus by at least $1 billion, amid attacks his tariffs plan did not focus enough on China.
Sanders said President Trump is concerned about protecting American industries and workers in the face of retaliation from other nations.
"The president has been talking about this for a long time," she told reporters. "It shouldn't come as a surprise to anybody.
"Other countries have created unfair trade policies for decades that have harmed our national and economic security.
"The president wants a strong economy and strong national security — and a strong U.S. economy benefits all Americans.
"The president is prepared to protect our country."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.