German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday signalled the willingness to have a discussion with the US over the trade dispute on steel and aluminum shortly before the tariff exemptions expire on June 1.
Merkel told a conference in Berlin that she still hoped there would be no need for the EU to implement retaliatory measures in its trade dispute with the US, Xinhua reported.
It was about finding the right answer, Merkel said, referring to the “Sword of Damocles” of US President Donald Trump’s bullying and protectionist attitude in trade issue.
Trump announced that EU companies would only be exempted from US tariffs on steel and aluminum introduced by June 1. The US government is also checking to impose import tariffs on cars.
Merkel reiterated the importance of multilateral organisations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), which is about a free, open and fair world trade system and against protectionism.