Official Sees Steel Duty Exemptions Soon
June 06, 2002 11:14:00 AM ET
 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top U.S. trade official on Thursday said the Bush administration would soon announce new exemptions to U.S. steel tariffs for specific products that are not made in the United States, but ruled out paying the kind of compensation for the duties requested by the European Union.

Commerce Undersecretary Grant Aldonas told reporters that he expected his department would announce long-awaited steel exemptions ``any day'' now.

But he said he knew of no plans for the United States to offer compensation to the EU through lowering duties on other European goods as Brussels had requested.

However, he noted that the EU was free to view whatever steel exemptions it receives as compensation if it so chooses.

© 2002 Reuters