Trump Authorizes Sanctions Against Turkey In Response To Syria Invasion

President Donald Trump announced Monday that he will sign an executive order giving his administration the authority to impose sanctions on Turkish government officials over the country’s invasion of Syria.

The administration first mulled sanctions during a Friday press briefing with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

“President Trump … will be signing a new executive order giving the Treasury Department, in consultation with himself and Secretary Pompeo, very significant new sanctions authorities that can be targeted at any person associated with the government of Turkey,” Mnuchin told reporters.

The president released a statement Monday indicating that he will be signing the order, and also indicated that he is canceling negotiations with Turkey on a $100 billion trade deal. The administration is also re-raising steel tariffs to 50%.