US excludes EU, six others from metal tariffs

WASHINGTON, March 22 (KUNA) -- The US Commerce Department will "pause" new steel and aluminum tariffs for the European Union and six other economies, a senior trade official said Thursday. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told a Senate committee that President Donald Trump authorized a "pause" in the imposition of the tariffs, which take effect Friday, while talks are underway to find a more permanent solution.
Also on the list of those exempted from paying the 25 percent tariff on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and South Korea.
This comes after a meeting between EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom, Lighthizer and US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Wednesday to discuss the EU's exclusion from the trade tariffs in order to avert a possible trade war with the US. (end) hy.rk