BERLIN, (MILLAT ONLINE/APP/AFP) – Berlin angrily protested Friday
after the United States said it would slap punitive “anti-dumping”
duties on steel plate products from companies in Germany and six
other nations.
Germany said the EU should consider filing a complaint with
the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in what threatened to turn into
a major trade row under US President Donald Trump, who has promised protectionist measures to put “America First”.
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel charged the step
breached global trade rules and unfairly disadvantaged suppliers
in Germany, as well as in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan,
South Korea and Taiwan.
The former economy minister warned that to deliberately
violate WTO rules “is a dangerous step” and that “Europeans
cannot accept this”.