U.S. President Donald Trump is seen on a TV screen announcing tariffs on steel and aluminum, at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on March 8, 2018. (Xinhua/Ting Shen)

Earlier in the day, U.S. President Donald Trump said via Twitter he wanted to reimpose tariffs on Argentina and Brazil to compensate for those countries devaluating their currencies, presumably to better compete in the international market.

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. White House decision to reimpose tariffs on Argentine steel and aluminum imports was "unexpected," Minister of Production and Labor Dante Sica said on Monday.

Sica told reporters that after hearing the news he met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Faurie, and the two got in touch with Argentina's ambassador in Washington, Fernando Oris de Roa.

"We still don't know what this implies. We want to know the details and the scope of the announcement," said Sica, who also aims to speak with U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

Earlier in the day, U.S. President Donald Trump said via Twitter he wanted to reimpose tariffs on Argentina and Brazil to compensate for those countries devaluating their currencies, presumably to better compete in the international market.

"Brazil and Argentina have been presiding over a massive devaluation of their currencies, which is not good for our farmers. Therefore, effective immediately, I will restore the Tariffs on all Steel & Aluminum that is shipped into the U.S. from those countries," Trump wrote.

Last year, Argentina was placed on the list of countries that were exempted from the steep tariffs (25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum), along with Brazil, Australia, European Union members, and South Korea. ■