President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE has fielded calls with a number of foreign leaders in recent days as the Trump administration seeks to contain potential fallout from Trump's decision to impose stiff tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Among the leaders to speak with Trump about trade have been French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Argentinian President Mauricio Macri, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The calls, some of which came before the tariffs were implemented, illustrate how the mere threat of trade duties rattled the international community.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trump moved on Thursday to impose the tariffs — 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on imported aluminum — but held open the possibility of negotiating exemptions with allies who promised to alter their trade practices with the U.S.

The tariffs are set to take effect in about two weeks, setting off a scramble among U.S. allies to swiftly secure exemptions from the duties.

Mexico and Canada, both of whom are among the largest steel exporters to the U.S., have already been excluded from the tariffs.

Trump offered a confirmation on Friday that his administration was at work negotiating other tariff exemptions. He said that he had spoken to Turnbull, and that the two had agreed to move quickly to strike a deal on the tariffs.

"He is committed to having a very fair and reciprocal military and trade relationship," Trump tweeted. "Working very quickly on a security agreement so we don’t have to impose steel or aluminum tariffs on our ally, the great nation of Australia!"

Spoke to PM @TurnbullMalcolm of Australia. He is committed to having a very fair and reciprocal military and trade relationship. Working very quickly on a security agreement so we don’t have to impose steel or aluminum tariffs on our ally, the great nation of Australia! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 9, 2018

Likewise, Trump said in another tweet that he had raised the issue of trade deficits during a phone call with Abe, but declared that "it will all work out."

Spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan, who is very enthusiastic about talks with North Korea. Also discussing opening up Japan to much better trade with the U.S. Currently have a massive $100 Billion Trade Deficit. Not fair or sustainable. It will all work out! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 10, 2018

In a Friday phone call with Trump, Macri expressed "concerns over the negative effects of these measures," according to a statement released by the Argentinian president's office.

In implementing the tariffs, Trump acted on the harshest recommendations put forth in a Commerce Department report earlier this year that declared steel and aluminum imports from China and elsewhere to be national security threats.

But the tariffs also threatened to spark an international trade war, as leaders in Europe, Canada, China and beyond warned they could retaliate with new tariffs of their own.

The European Union proposed possible new tariffs on bourbon, Levi's jeans and Harley Davidson motorcycles — duties that appeared to be politically targeted, affecting goods manufactured in the home states of congressional leaders.

Likewise, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland warned this week of "responsive measures" if the Trump administration slapped tariffs on Canada, the largest exporter of steel to the U.S.

"Should restrictions be imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum products, Canada will take responsive measures to defend its trade interests and workers," she said.

By the time Trump formally implemented the tariffs on Thursday, his position had shifted from his initial proposal to hit allies and adversaries alike with the tariffs.

"I’ll have a right to go up or down depending on the country, and I’ll have a right to drop out countries or add countries," Trump said Thursday. "We’re going to be very fair, we’re going to be very flexible, but we’re going to protect the American worker — as I said I would do in my campaign."