Breaking: President Trump Makes Tariffs A Reality

It’s official. He wasn’t all talk. President Trump just made the tariffs a reality.

Pres. Trump: "We have to protect and build our steel and aluminum industries, while at the same time showing great flexibility and cooperation toward those that are really friends of ours, both on a trade basis and a military basis." https://t.co/0imZ0NeDGE pic.twitter.com/a3A9mKXHAv

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 8, 2018

"Today, I am defending America's national security, by placing tariffs on foreign imports of steel & aluminum," Pres. Trump says. "We will have a 25% tariff on foreign steel & a 10% tariff on foreign aluminum, when the product comes across our borders." https://t.co/0imZ0NeDGE pic.twitter.com/G3gHveoFel

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 8, 2018

"The actions we are taking today are not a matter of choice, they are a matter of necessity for our security," Pres. Trump says ahead of signing new tariffs on foreign steel and foreign aluminum https://t.co/0imZ0NeDGE pic.twitter.com/BFJDMIQxrG

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 8, 2018

WATCH: Pres. Trump signs new tariffs on aluminum and steel imports; 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum imports to go into effect 15 days from now https://t.co/0imZ0NeDGE pic.twitter.com/ZnU8u342gx

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 8, 2018

"Even in the proclamation the president just signed a few minutes, there is still uncertainty about which countries [beyond Canada and Mexico] will get those exemptions" on steel and aluminum tariffs, @ZekeJMiller reports https://t.co/0imZ0Nweyc pic.twitter.com/PCo2RZYnv3

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 8, 2018

President Trump signed an order Thursday that imposes tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from all foreign countries, while carving out an exception for Canada and Mexico for now while North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations are under way.

The president, joined by steel and aluminum workers, signed a companion proclamation — one on steel and one on aluminum – instituting a tariff of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum imports. The tariffs will become effective in 15 days, with exclusions for Mexico and Canada taking effect “immediately,” officials said.

“You are truly the backbone of America, you know that. Very special people,” Trump told the workers. “We have to protect our steel and alumnium industries while at the same time, showing great flexibility with people who are really friends of ours.”

Again– he made an exception for Canada and Mexico.

"Due to the unique nature of our relationship with Canada and Mexico, we are negotiating NAFTA — we are going to hold off the tariff, to see whether or not we are able to make a deal on NAFTA," Pres. Trump says https://t.co/0imZ0NeDGE pic.twitter.com/QBBLCbrLN6

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 8, 2018

“This is not merely an economic disaster, but it’s a security disaster,” Trump said. “Today, I’m defending America’s national security.”

The U.S. is the world’s largest importer of steel, importing nearly four times as much as it exports, according to the White House. The U.S. imported five times as much primary aluminum as it produced in 2016.

“It’s a process called dumping. And they dumped more than any time, on any nation, anywhere in the world, and it drove our plants out and our businesses out,” Trump said.

BREAKING: @POTUS signs order that imposes tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from all foreign countries. https://t.co/AGd6Q5AOY6 pic.twitter.com/x7jsmLpa8t

— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 8, 2018

Ryan says he'd prefer a "surgical" approach on tariffs. Says he's "not a fan of broad based tariffs. Predicts there will be "collateral damage."

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 8, 2018

Wyden on tariffs: These actions need to give American workers a fair shake and bring back jobs in industries important to our national security..It is too soon to tell whether this administration is up to the task of delivering that kind of action.

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 8, 2018

Senate Finance Cmte Chair Hatch on tariffs: This is a tax hike on American manufacturers, workers and consumers..tariffs of this magnitude is misguided. It undermines the benefits that the new tax law provides and runs counter to our goal of advancing pro-growth trade policies

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 8, 2018

Ryan on tariffs: I disagree with this action and fear its unintended consequences..We will continue to urge the administration to narrow this policy so that it is focused only on those countries and practices that violate trade law.

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 8, 2018

Ways/Means Chair Brady on tariffs: Exempting Canada and Mexico is a good first step, and I urge the White House to go further to narrow these tariffs so they hit the intended target – and not U.S. workers, businesses and families.

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 8, 2018

Lots of tariff talk. Thoughts?

h/t Fox News