By KEN THOMAS and ANGELA CHARLTON , Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration is planning to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminum imports after failing to win concessions from the European Union, a move that could provoke retaliatory tariffs and inflame trans-Atlantic trade tensions. EU leaders want “exceptions from these tariffs and have offered to hold talks on a certain basis.”

But if there are no exemptions, she said, “We will respond in an intelligent, decisive and joint way.”

EU Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said Thursday the European side is “ready to deal with any kind of scenario, and to defend the EU interests and international trade law.”

Trump announced in March that the United States would slap a 25 percent tariff on imported steel and a 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum, citing national security interests. “The US is playing a dangerous game here.”

Wilbur Ross, the US commerce secretary, said insufficient progress had been made in talks with the EU, Canada and Mexico, since the US had agreed a temporary reprieve from the tariffs for the three close US allies after they were unveiled by Trump two months ago. Europe had promised swift retaliation if it was hit with the trade penalties, and had warned it could quickly respond with 25% tariffs on US products such as motorcycles, denim, cigarettes, cranberry juice and peanut butter. France immediately labelled the U.S.’s actions “unjustifiable and dangerous.”

It is expected that if all sides do attend, Canada will try to act as an honest broker and attempt to work out a compromise — but the prime minister’s influence with the Trump Administration may not be what it was.
United States tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union are set to take effect at midnight.