The United States said on Monday it was "deeply disappointed" the European Union was pressing ahead with litigation over steel and aluminium tariffs at the World Trade Organisation, and urged EU member states to consider carefully their broader interests.

US Ambassador Dennis Shea also told a WTO meeting that going ahead with hearings on disputes about US tariffs would undermine the viability of the WTO, according to a transcript of his remarks seen by Reuters.

A US trade official later told the same meeting that the United States was hopeful of reaching a deal in talks on the tariffs with Canada and Mexico, the transcript showed.

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