Ross said talks with the EU had failed to reach a satisfactory agreement to convince Washington to continue the exemption from the tariffs imposed in March. A presidential proclamation confirmed the imposition of import duties of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium starting Friday. - Talks can continue -Ross downplayed the threats of retaliation from those countries, and said talks can continue even amid the dispute to try to find a solution. Trump imposed the steel and aluminium tariffs using a national security justification, which Ross said encompasses a broad array of economic issues. Meanwhile, South Korea negotiated a steel quota, while Argentina, Australia and Brazil have arranged for "limitations on the volume they can ship to the US in lieu of tariffs," Ross said.

Source: Bangkok Post May 31, 2018 15:45 UTC