Ryan: ‘I disagree’ with Trump’s tariffs

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Thursday condemned President Trump’s decision to impose a new set of steel and aluminum tariffs against close trading allies. 

“I disagree with this decision,” Ryan said in a statement after Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced the new duties Thursday morning.

“Instead of addressing the real problems in the international trade of these products, today’s action targets America’s allies when we should be working with them,” he said. 

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The hefty tariffs against the European Union, Canada and Mexico are set to begin Friday. The move came after Trump decided to end temporary exemptions for the countries and was met with pledges of retaliatory measures shortly after its announcement. 

Ryan initially lobbied the Trump administration to take a more “surgical” and “targeted” approach to righting trade disparities when the president announced a 25 percent steel tariff and 10 percent aluminum tariff in March.

The speaker said Thursday that he would continue negotiations with Trump to explore “better ways to help American workers.”