WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump intends to impose steep import duties on steel and aluminum imports from Europe starting Friday, after weeks of talks failed to reach a compromise, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. Washington exempted Canada and Mexico from the tariffs while negotiations continue to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement, and South Korea agreed to quotas instead of tariffs. The EU has vowed to hit back at the US with tariffs on American goods, including iconic items such as Harley-Davidson motorbikes, blue jeans and bourbon whiskey. The metals dispute is just one front in Trump's multi-sided trade confrontation that has hit economic partners and adversaries alike. He is pressing ahead with 25% tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods, even after last week saying that dispute was "on hold," and 25% tariffs on auto imports, which is likely to spark a fierce reaction from the EU as well.

Source: Bangkok Post May 30, 2018 21:56 UTC