According to CNNMoney,a financial website owned by CNN,Mid Continental Nail,a US nail manufacturer,is continuing to lay off workers in response to rising costs caused by Trump's steel tariffs.If this situation continues,the company may be forced to close before the end of September.

"I can tell you that if we don't receive immediate relief,we may close down within the next 20 to 30 days,"said Chris Pratt,the company's general manager,on Tuesday

In June this year,the company said that if it could not obtain a tariff exemption,it might be forced to close before the"Labor Day"in the United States on September 3rd.But a recent meeting with U.S.Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross left them with the hope of receiving an exemption.

"Secretary Ross deeply sympathizes with our situation,especially the possible loss of 500 jobs,"Pratt said.Since the steel tariffs took effect in June,the company has reduced 150 of its 500 employees.

Pratt said tariffs pushed up the cost of raw materials,forcing the company to raise product prices,but doing so led to a sharp decline in orders.

The United States Department of Commerce may rule on the Central China Steel Nail Company's application for tariff exemption as soon as Tuesday local time,but the company's application has been swamped by more than 20000 similar applications,all of which said they were unable to purchase steel and aluminum materials from domestic suppliers.Most companies are still awaiting a ruling.

The Central Continental Steel Nail Company stated that it may transfer production to Mexico,where its parent company,DeAcero,is located,and then resell the finished steel nails to the United States without paying tariffs,as Trump's steel tariffs only apply to raw materials,not finished products.

The Central Continental Company has been in Missouri for over 25 years.Since its acquisition by DeAcero in 2012,its size has roughly doubled.Prior to layoffs,Pratt said,the company was the second largest employer in the Poplar Bluff area of Missouri.