Canada vows to protect its metals sector

OTTAWA, June 05 (Reuters): Canada's government vowed on Monday to do all it could to protect its steel and aluminum sectors from US tariffs but sidestepped an industry call to strike back quickly, saying it needed time to study the issue.

President Donald Trump's administration last week imposed US tariffs of 205 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminum from Canada - the No. 1 steel exporter to the United States - as well as on Mexico and the European Union (EU).

Canada retaliated against the latest punitive measures last week by proposing levies on C$16.6 billion worth of US exports that would take effect on July 1.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with steel executives on Monday and said: "We are going to stand up for our workers."

Canadian Steel Producers Association President Joseph Galimberti said producers had not asked the federal government for financial help at the Ottawa meeting but instead pressed for the countermeasures to be imposed as quickly as possible.

"We are seeing customers in steel right now who are changing orders, putting orders on hold ... this is a dire situation for Canadian steel," he told reporters.

Trudeau made clear later he was in no hurry, telling legislators in the House of Commons that Ottawa wanted to carry out public consultations on the proposed retaliatory tariffs to make sure they were appropriate.

Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Ottawa would study the impact of the US tariffs before offering specific aid.