President Trump will sign a proclamation implementing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports on Thursday afternoon, the White House said, after days of uncertainty about whether the duties would be ready for his signature by the end of the week.
The proclamation will apply a 25 percent tariff on all steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on all aluminum imports, but will exempt Canada and Mexico conditionally on the assumption that the two countries will renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. The tariffs will not take effect for 15 days, the White House said on Thursday.
Trump’s announcement of the policy took Washington, and even members of his own staff, by surprise last week. White House aides were uncertain as recently as Thursday morning about when the administration would finalize the tariffs.
The president is scheduled to sign the proclamation at 3:30 pm in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.
