Gary Cohn resigns as Trump economic adviser

White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn has resigned from U.S. President Trump's administration.

No date has been announced for him to leave. The former Goldman Sachs president and free-trade advocate departs after Trump announced he would impose stiff tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Cohn, in a prepared statement, said on Tuesday, "It has been an honor to serve my country and enact pro-growth economic policies to benefit the American people, in particular the passage of historic tax reform."

"I am grateful to the President for giving me this opportunity and wish him and the Administration great success in the future," Cohn said.

In his own statement, Trump said, "Gary has been my chief economic advisor and did a superb job in driving our agenda, helping to deliver historic tax cuts and reforms and unleashing the American economy once again."

"He is a rare talent, and I thank him for his dedicated service to the American people."

Cohn clashed with Trump's protectionist advisers on the issue of tariffs.

Cohn was Goldman's No 2 executive when Trump named him as his top economic adviser. Cohn also had been seen as a possible chairman of the Federal Reserve.