ECONOMY/STEVE MNUCHIN/TARIFFS/TREASURY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Trump’s plan to hit countries around the world with stiff tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum has dominated a gathering of world economic leaders amid fears that the United States is on the cusp of starting an international trade war.
On Monday [3-19-20], Steven Mnuchin, the United States Treasury secretary, was peppered with requests from several countries for exemptions from the tariffs, which are being imposed in the name of national security. In a series of what Mr. Mnuchin called ‘direct’ conversations with leaders here for the Group of 20 finance ministers meeting, the Treasury secretary defended Mr. Trump’s ‘America First’ economic policies, while trying to soothe his counterparts’ concerns.
In an interview on the sidelines of the meeting, Mr. Mnuchin suggested exemptions to the tariffs could be announced ‘relatively quickly.'”
–Alan Rappeport, “Mnuchin Defends Trump Tariffs as World Economic Leaders Worry,” The New York Times online, Mar. 20, 2018