Qatar helps Turkey, the lira recovers, and the US rules out lifting tariffs.

247, with Reuters - The United States ruled out on Wednesday (15) removing tariffs on steel that contributed to a currency crisis in Turkey even if Ankara releases an American pastor, while Qatar pledged to invest $15 billion in Turkey, which supported the recovery of the Turkish lira that day.

The White House's stance appears to have given Turkish authorities little incentive to try to secure the release of Andrew Brunson, a pastor on trial in Turkey accused of terrorism. Turkish authorities have always said that this is a matter for the country's courts.

While the dispute over Brunson appears far from a solution, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan received help from the Emir of Qatar, who approved a package of economic projects, investments, and deposits after a meeting between the two in Ankara.

The money from Qatar will be injected into banks and the financial market, a Turkish government source told Reuters.

The move by the Gulf ally offered Turkey additional support for a lira recovery after the Turkish central bank tightened liquidity and curbed selling of the currency.

The lira has lost about 40 percent of its value against the dollar this year, amid concerns about Erdogan's growing control over the economy and his repeated calls for low interest rates despite high inflation.

Responding to the situation, the lira hit 7,24 against the dollar on Monday, a record low, shocking global stock markets and threatening the stability of Turkey's financial sector. On Wednesday, the Turkish currency recovered, hovering around the 6 against the dollar level.

President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Turkish metals exported to the United States last week, prompting Turkey, which said it would not bow to threats, to raise tariffs on cars, alcohol and tobacco by the same amount on Wednesday.

The White House called the action a step in the wrong direction.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders also stressed that the U.S. had no plans to remove tariffs on steel if Brunson were released, but that it could remove sanctions imposed on two high-ranking Turkish officials if the pastor were freed.