White House spokesman Sanders said on the 15th that even if Turkey releases the American pastor Brunson, the United States will not cancel the import tariff imposed on Turkish steel and aluminum products.

Sanders said at the press conference that the United States’ tariff increase was “considered for national security interests,” and the actions taken by the US on detainees such as Brunson were reflected in the sanctions against the two Turkish ministers. 

Sanders said that Turkey’s counter-measures against the United States are “regrettable” and “mistaken actions” because of retaliation against the United States.

Regarding the impact of US pressure on the Turkish economy, Sanders said that the US is paying attention to the Turkish economy and its currency depreciation, but Turkey’s economic problems have "have been for a long time", not caused by the pressure from the US.

Turkey issued a presidential decree on the 15th to impose import tariffs on some of the goods produced in the United States. Turkish Vice President Oktay said that the tariffs on some US goods were imposed because the United States violated the principle of trade reciprocity and deliberately attacked the Turkish economy.

On August 1, the United States announced that because the American pastor Brunson was imprisoned in Turkey, the US decided to sanction the Turkish Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Interior. On the 10th, the United States announced that it would double the import tariff on Turkish steel and aluminum products, which intensified the decline of the Turkish currency Lira against the US dollar.