EP Forum slams US tariffs on Turkey

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA

A group of European deputies following issues in Turkey has criticized the U.S. decision to impose additional tariffs on Turkish steel and .

"An economic destabilization of Turkey is in no one's interest," said a statement Tuesday by the European Parliament Turkey Forum, a cross-party MEP group founded to closely monitor Turkey's European Union accession negotiations.

The forum added that it sees the U.S. sanctions as "illegitimate" and against World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

It also highlighted the importance of solving problems through constructive diplomatic engagement between two NATO allies.

Last Friday President Donald Trump ramped up an attack on Turkey by doubling U.S. tariffs on Turkish and steel imports.