OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 6:23 AM PT — Wed. August 15, 2018
Turkey is retaliating against the Trump administration’s newly imposed sanctions.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree Wednesday to raise tariffs on U.S. imports including cars, alcohol and tobacco.
The decree will raise tariffs on American car imports by 120-percent, alcohol by 140-percent and tobacco by 60-percent.
Tariffs on cosmetics, rice and coal were also increased. The country has also called for a ban on U.S. electronics.
A container ship is docked at the Port of Miami, Fla. (Photo/AP/File)
Following the latest announcement, Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin has called on the U.S. to engage in diplomacy.
“The U.S. administration must respect the judiciary process in Turkey, they need to stop trying to influence Turkish judiciary by making statements and putting pressure,” stated Kalin. “When this happens, our relations will be normalized and a new page will begin in Turkish-American relations.”
The retaliatory actions come after the Trump administration doubled tariffs on Turkey’s steele and aluminum imports last week.
The country said it is willing to hold talks with the U.S. over the matter.
U.S. Charge d’Affaires Jeffrey Hovenier talks to members of the media after visiting US pastor Andrew Brunson, who is being held under house arrest in Izmir, Turkey, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Hovenier has called for the cases against Brunson and others held in Turkey to be resolved “without delay” and in a “fair and transparent manner.” (AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
Meanwhile, Turkey has also decided reject a U.S. appeal calling for the release of an imprisoned American pastor.
That’s according to Turkish state media, which also reported a higher court will likely review the appeal.
This comes after defense attorneys for pastor Andrew Brunson renewed an appeal on Tuesday, ordering the Turkish government to release their client from house arrest and lift his travel ban.
Brunson was arrested and indicted on espionage and terror-related charges back in 2016 in connection with a failed military coup operation.
President Trump has since intervened and called for the pastor’s immediate release.
The post Turkey Retaliates to Sanctions by Raising Tariffs on U.S. Imports, Rejects Appeal for Pastor appeared first on One America News Network.
