EU Commission ‘patient but prepared’ ahead of US tariffs move

BRUSSELS: The European Commission said on Monday it was "patient but prepared" ahead of a US decision on whether to impose import tariffs on steel and aluminium coming from the bloc.

The European Union, along with other countries such as Canada and Mexico, were granted temporary exemptions from the tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminium applied from March. Those exemptions expire on May 1.

"The only thing that I can tell you today is that we are patient but we are also prepared," Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told a news conference.