EU trade official blasts US tariffs

Commissioner says import duties violate WTO rules, threaten the world's economy

STRASBOURG - European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom told reporters recently that US tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum are distorting global trade and may undermine global economic growth.

"We are seeing a recovery and a potential growth in trade and global growth, but it is threatened by these tariffs," Malmstrom said. "We can already see tendencies of distortion of trade that affect the EU."