Europe to pursue case against latest US tariffs at WTO

WASHINGTON (AP) - The European Union says it plans to bring its case against new U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium to the World Trade Organization on Friday.

If that happens, the 28-nation EU would join China and India in triggering the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism over the American trade penalties.

Turning to the WTO would give the EU a second response to the tariffs.

It’s already prepared $1.6 billion in retaliation against U.S. goods including steel, orange juice, motorcycles and bourbon whiskey.

WTO proceedings could open the door to further penalties and increase pressure on Washington, though the process traditionally takes many months and in some cases, years.

The head of the World Trade Organization is expressing “very real concern” about rising trade tensions and the risk of escalation.

The comments from Director-General Roberto Azevedo come in the wake of U.S. trade penalties on imported steel and aluminium.

But he says the global trading system “was built to resolve these problems in a way that prevents further escalation.”

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