EU calls for industry input on tariff retaliation list

BRUSSELS, Mar 16 (Reuters): The European Commission called for industry views on Friday on a list of U.S. products it will subject to import tariffs if the United States taxes European steel and aluminum.

The Commission asked "private stakeholders" affected by the U.S. tariffs and the EU's possible response by March 26.

The Commission plans to set duties of 25 per cent on a range of U.S. products, from maize to motorbikes, whose annual imports to the European Union are worth some 2.8 billion euros ($3.45 billion).

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order last week that would subject incoming steel to a tariff of 25 per cent and aluminum 10 per cent, albeit with exemptions for Canada, Mexico and possibly other countries.

The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 28-member European Union, is still unclear how it might secure an exemption. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom are due to discuss the issue at a meeting next week.