Japanese prosecutors have charged major steelmaker Kobe Steel with violating laws overseeing competition in a massive faking of product data.

President Donald Trump's administration is thought to be planning to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminium imports after failing to win concessions from the European Union, a move that could provoke retaliatory tariffs and inflame trans-Atlantic trade tensions.

If the US exempts its allies from tariffs, it would also need some reassurance that those allies’ exports to the US will not skyrocket, says Daniel Gros.

Donald Trump has said his commerce secretary will be talking to the European Union about tariffs the US president argues have been unfair to America.

Germany's foreign minister has said the EU should consider filing a trade case against the US over Washington's decision to impose anti-dumping duties on steel imported from Europe.

An interim examiner has been appointed by the High Court to a Co Wexford-based steel-fabrication business, which employs 24 people.