Mubasher: Turkey would start levying tariffs worth around $267 million on US goods, in retaliation to Washington’s decision to impose duties on steel and aluminium imports, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said on Thursday.

The tariffs will target US products ranging from cosmetics, paper and tobacco to coal, automobiles and machinery equipment.

“The total tariff burden today being imposed by Turkey […] is commensurate with the additional costs Turkey faces due to the tariffs imposed on it by the US,” Zeybekci said in a statement on Thursday, as reported by Reuters.

"We cannot and will not allow Turkey to be wrongly blamed for America's economic challenges," the minister said, adding that the measures “are proportional, measured and designed to protect Turkey’s interests.”

It is worth noting that US President Donald Trump imposed 25% and 10% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, respectively in March.

Trade allies such as the European Union (EU), Canada, and Mexico were initially provided temporary exemptions, but the US administration let them lapse at the beginning of the month, while Turkish imports did not receive a tariff exemption.