US extends decision on metals tariffs for Canada, EU and Mexico by 30 days

The Trump administration on Monday (local time) announced that it has extended a decision on implementing steel and aluminum tariffs on the European Union (EU), Canada and Mexico.

The decision has been delayed for another 30 days. The 25 per cent tariffs on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum were set to go into effect on Tuesday, reported the New York Times.

Negotiations will continue for the next 30 days with the 28-member bloc, as well as Canada and Mexico. The White House said this would be the final period to reach a deal with the key trading partners.

Those extensions will affect the EU, Canada and Mexico.

The administration has also reached agreements in principle on tariffs with Australia, Argentina and Brazil and they will also receive a 30-day extension so details can be finalized.

The US had been seeking concessions from these countries in exchange for not permitting the tariffs to go into effect.

US finally agrees to consult China on tariff policies; informs WTO

The United States has told the World Trade Organization it has agreed to discuss with China the Trump administration's efforts to slap tariffs on steel, aluminum and an array of goods from China.

A Geneva-based trade official said today that the move was an expected, but not mandatory, step that buys Washington time to flesh out its differences with Beijing.

China requested the discussions about U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that the administration has defended on national security grounds, and the possibility of U.S. tariffs on 1,300 Chinese goods.

The tariffs on the goods have been billed as a penalty for Beijing forcing US companies to hand over technology to obtain access to China's market.

The official said the United States had agreed to the discussions, known as consultations in WTO parlance, without yielding about its belief that the tariffs are justified. The official requested anonymity since he was not authorized to speak publicly about the discussions.

The United States has argued that the proposed tariffs on goods like electronics and machinery have not been levied yet, so China's request wasn't justified under WTO dispute settlement rules.