Merkel and Macron 'will press Trump over EU steel tariffs exemption'

The EU's trade chief has said German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron will press US leader Donald Trump this week to exempt the 28-member bloc permanently from US steel and aluminium tariffs.

Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said the EU will be ready to hit back with measures of its own as of next month if the punitive tariffs are imposed.