The European Commission said yesterday that US President Donald Trump’s decision not to impose steel and aluminium tariffs on the EU for now prolonged business uncertainty and the EU should get a permanent exemption.

On Monday the White House announced that Trump had extended a temporary reprieve from the tariffs for the EU, Canada and Mexico until June 1, just hours before they were due to come into force. He also reached agreements for permanent exemptions for Argentina, Australia and Brazil, it said.

The Commission, which coordinates trade policy for the 28 EU members, acknowledged Trump’s decision but said the EU should be permanently exempted from the tariffs since it was not the cause of overcapacity in steel and aluminium.

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