Washington: US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Friday that US President Donald Trump could exempt more countries from trade tariffs.

Trump signed an order for 25 per cent tariffs on steel imports and 10 per cent for aluminum at the White House on Thursday, but exempted Canada and Mexico.

"The president can do exemptions and my expectation is there may be some other countries that he considers in the next two weeks," Mnuchin said in an interview with broadcaster CNBC.

Reuters