World unites as Bush imposes steel tariffs

A host of countries around the world have condemned the United States after President George Bush imposed tariffs of up to 30% on imported steel.

The European Union says it has lodged a protest against the restrictions with the World Trade Organisation and the UK says it will follow suit.

Japan and South Korea also said they may join the EU in complaining to the WTO. The nations hardest hit by the tariffs include China, Japan, South Korea, Ukraine and Russia.

Mr Bush said the tariffs - ranging from 8% to 30% - were intended as "temporary safeguards" while the US steel industry underwent a restructuring process.

"An integral part of our commitment to free trade is our commitment to enforcing trade laws to make sure that America's industries and workers compete on a level playing field," he said.

Earlier, Tony Blair's official spokesman said: "We believe that tariffs are against not only the interests of countries such as ours and Europe, but also against the interests of US consumers themselves, because it would be US consumers who would have to pay the higher prices for steel imports."

European Commission President Romano Prodi warned that relations with the US would suffer following the move and hinted at possible trade retaliation by the EU against American products.

Japan's trade minister Takeo Hiranuma said: "We doubt whether the United States is sustaining any grave damage to the extent that will justify the invocation of safeguards.".

Mr Hiranuma says Japan may file a complaint with the WTO while the South Korea Foreign Ministry says it will use "all possible means" to fight the US tariffs, which it said would have "considerable impact" on steel exports.

In Moscow, Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned US ambassador Alexander Vershbow to express concern about threatened sanctions on Russian steel imports as punishment for alleged dumping while Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile, New Zealand Trade Minister Jim Sutton and the Brazilian government were also critical.