Article snippet: MORE's decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum from the European Union, Canada and Mexico has pushed his administration to the brink of an all-out trade war with three of the nation’s largest trading partners. Commerce Secretary MORE announced Thursday morning that the U.S. would be ending the temporary exemptions that had been granted to the three countries for steel and aluminum imports. With the exemptions lifted, those imports will face tariffs of 25 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The move drew withering criticism from congressional Republicans, business groups and U.S. allies, who had all tried to push the president onto another path. But true to form, Trump defied U.S. allies in favor of the “America First” agenda he had promised as a candidate. Trump has downplayed the danger of a trade war, calling such conflicts “easy to win.” That theory will now be put to the test, with the three countries now moving to inflict maximum pain on parts of the American economy. Canada, Mexico and the EU all announced a series of retaliatory measures following the Trump administration’s decision. Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland said Ottawa would impose upward of $12.8 billion in tariffs starting July 1 on U.S. steel, aluminum and a range of other American products. U.S. steel components will be taxed at 25 percent, while other goods, including aluminum, toilet paper, whisky and orange juice, will see tariffs of 10 percent. The tari... Link to the full article to read more