WTO to Probe U.S. Duties on EU Steel

The World Trade Organization launched a probe into a complaint by the European Union that the United States had failed to drop illegal import duties on some EU steel products.

If the WTO trade panel finds for the EU, then the 25-nation bloc is likely to ask for special tariffs on U.S. imports.

The request came after consultations between the two trading powers in May when U.S. officials insisted that the duties had been adjusted after the WTO ruled them illegal two years ago.

The EU accepted that in nine of the 12 cases Washington had taken some action, but contended that in three -- covering steel from Britain, France and Spain -- it had not.