10/04/2018 (Agence Europe) – The European Aluminium industry association said on Monday 9 April that the EU would probably consider safeguard measures within WTO rules after the United States, on 23 March, unilaterally increased its customs duties on steel imports by 25% and on aluminium imports by 10%. The EU has been provisionally exempted from these increases until 1 May (see EUROPE 11988). The association said that taking precautions could prevent any shift in exports from Russia, the Middle East or China, for example, that would be harmful to the EU. On Monday 26 March, the European Commission launched a safeguard investigation to prevent global steel exports destined for the American market to be redirected towards the EU market. If they were to prove necessary, provisional measures could be adopted swiftly. (EH)