US-based group urges dialogue between US, Turkey

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON

Ankara and Washington must increase dialogue and return to the negotiating table to solve their budding crisis, the U.S.-based American-Turkish Council (ATC) said Monday.

The independent business group said it "is deeply troubled by the U.S. Administration’s increased steel and aluminum tariffs levied against Turkey,” in a statement

It follows moves by President Donald Trump on Friday who said on Twitter he authorized those tariffs to be doubled, noting that "aluminum will now be 20% and steel 50%." He said they would take effect Aug. 13.

"The tariffs do not make business sense and will hurt the American companies and workers who rely on Turkish metals to meet their customers’ needs," ATC said.

The organization asserted the business relationship between Ankara and Washington has historically been based on mutual respect and cooperation.

"The ATC implores the Trump Administration to reconsider this escalation of a trade war that is without winners and to resolve this dispute at the negotiating table," it said.

The American-Turkish community must work to encourage both sides to find positive terms and common ground to anchor the relationship between the two NATO allies, according to ATC.

"We must inspire increased dialogue, seek greater collaboration, and support the efforts to strengthen our trade and investment ties in the near, medium, and long term," it said.

Trump's tariffs decision is another salvo in the growing dispute between the two NATO allies.

Turkey and the U.S. are currently experiencing rocky relations following Washington’s imposition of sanctions on Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey.

*Muhammed Bilal Kenasari in Washington contributed to this report