Turkey increases tariffs on some US imports, escalating feud

AP  |  Ankara 

announced today it is increasing tariffs on imports of certain US products, escalating a feud with the that has helped trigger a currency crisis.

Turkey's Vice said on that the tariffs on certain products were increased "within the framework of the principle of reciprocity in retaliation for the conscious economic attacks by the "

The Turkish lira has dropped to record lows in recent weeks, having fallen some 42 per cent so far this year.

The currency has now stabilized at around 6.50 lira against the dollar.

Investors are worried not only about Turkey's souring relations with the US, a longtime NATO ally, but also Turkish Recep Tayyip Erdogan's economic policies and the country's high debt accumulated in foreign currencies.

has accused the of waging an "economic war" as part of a plot to harm the country.

has imposed financial sanctions on two Turkish ministers and doubled and aluminum tariffs on Turkey, as US tries to secure the release Andrew Brunson, an American pastor being tried in on espionage and terrorism-related charges.

The decision to impose new tariffs came a day after Erdogan said Turkey would boycott US electronic goods, singling out iPhones.

He suggested would buy local or Korean phones instead, although it was unclear how he intended to enforce the boycott.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, August 15 2018. 13:05 IST