US tariffs: Steel and aluminium levies slapped on key allies

US President Donald Trump

The US is to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from key allies in Europe and North America.

The US said a 25% tax on steel and 10% tax on aluminium from the EU, Mexico and Canada will start at midnight. The move immediately triggered vows of retaliation from Mexico, Canada and the EU, which called the tariffs “protectionism, pure and simple”.

The UK said it was “deeply disappointed” by the US decision, which followed weeks of negotiations. EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said it was a “bad day for world trade”, while European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the move was “totally unacceptable”.

The EU has “no choice” but to bring a case before the World Trade Organization and impose duties on US imports, he added. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the tariffs were an “affront” to the longstanding relationship between Canada and the US, especially to the “thousands of Canadian soldiers who fought and died alongside their American comrades-in-arms” in Afghanistan.

He said Canada plans to levy tariffs on American products worth about $13bn starting 1 July. It is also planning a challenge at the World Trade Organization. He said: “We have to believe that at some point common sense will prevail but we see no sign of that in this [US] action today.”

The US is to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from key allies in Europe and North America.

The US said a 25% tax on steel and 10% tax on aluminium from the EU, Mexico and Canada will start at midnight.

The move immediately triggered vows of retaliation from Mexico, Canada and the EU, which called the tariffs “protectionism, pure and simple”.

The UK said it was “deeply disappointed” by the US decision, which followed weeks of negotiations.

EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said it was a “bad day for world trade”, while European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the move was “totally unacceptable”.

The EU has “no choice” but to bring a case before the World Trade Organization and impose duties on US imports, he added.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the tariffs were an “affront” to the longstanding relationship between Canada and the US, especially to the “thousands of Canadian soldiers who fought and died alongside their American comrades-in-arms” in Afghanistan.

He said Canada plans to levy tariffs on American products worth about $13bn starting 1 July. It is also planning a challenge at the World Trade Organization.

He said: “We have to believe that at some point common sense will prevail but we see no sign of that in this [US] action today.”

Mr Trump has the authority to lift the tariffs or alter them at any time, he added.

“We continue to be quite willing and indeed eager to have discussions with all those parties,” Mr Ross said. – bbc.com