Turkey just announced BIG tariffs on the US in row over Christian Pastor….and Trump is already considering more sanctions

Turkey has announced this morning that they retaliating against the US over Andrew Brunson with heavy tariffs on cars, alcohol, and other items:

CNN MONEY – Turkey on Wednesday intensified its clash with the United States, announcing heavy new tariffs on some American products including cars, alcohol and tobacco.

Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Twitter that the measures were in response to “the deliberate attack of the US administration on our economy.”

The Turkish government has doubled its retaliatory tariffs on American cars to 120% and on alcoholic drinks to 140%, according to a notice published Wednesday. Other affected products include fruit, coal, makeup and rice.

Relations between Washington and Ankara have rapidly soured in recent weeks over Turkey’s detention of the American pastor Andrew Brunson.

Turkey has also rejected a new appeal to release Brunson to the US:

YAHOO – A Turkish court on Wednesday rejected a new appeal to free US pastor Andrew Brunson, whose detention has sparked a major row between Turkey and the United States, local media reported.

The court in the western city of Izmir ruled that Brunson, who faces 35 years in jail over terror and espionage charges, will remain under house arrest, the state television TRT reported.

Brunson’s jail term had been converted to house detention for health reasons.

His detention has soured relations with Washington, with US President Donald Trump doubling aluminium and steel tariffs for Turkey in punitive actions against Ankara’s refusal to release Brunson.

The crisis has sent the Turkish currency into free fall since Friday.

But Trump isn’t backing down over this. Instead it’s being reported they are now considering even more economic sanctions:

AHVAL – The next round of U.S. economic sanctions on Turkey could include limits on national flag carrier Turkish Airlines, the New York Times said on Wednesday.

If an American pastor jailed by Turkey, Andrew Brunson, were not released by the end of the day, there could be more economic sanctions put on the Turkish economy, it said.

And this just after Trump doubled steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey last week.

I don’t know how this ends and I don’t know how this affects military operations in Syria, especially since we are using a military base in Turkey.

But I am glad Trump is finally putting Turkey in economic vice grips over Brunson. This has gone on too long.


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