United States Senator Chuck Grassley (pictured) said on Tuesday that officials from the US and Canada could hold talks soon to resolve the issue of steel tariffs, Politico reported. The senator's remarks come after President Donald Trump praised steel tariffs earlier in the day, insisting that they have a positive effect on the US economy. Trump said that the tariffs are particularly beneficial for US defense and auto industries.
"That's my understanding. And [there's] even the possibility of some face-to-face talks very soon. And maybe in 48 hours I'll have a more definitive answer for you," Grassley noted.
US government officials held talks with their Canadian and Mexican counterparts over the past year on a few occasions in attempts to resolve the tariffs issue and replace the punitive measures with quotas. Senator Grassley has repeatedly called for the Trump administration to remove the punitive measures, threatening even to not pass the USMCA trade agreement if the tariffs remain in force.
