19/12/2018 (Agence Europe) – Following the unilateral increase in US tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium, the European Commission had launched a safeguard inquiry in March 2018 to prevent the diversion of world steel exports destined for the US market to its market (see EUROPE 11989). The survey, of exceptional size and complexity, covers 28 categories of steel products and concerns nearly 800 stakeholders. It could lead the EU to impose its own tariffs or quotas on steel imports, which would be applied to all countries. This type of investigation should be concluded no later than nine months after its initiation. The European Commission has announced a two-month extension, allowed under "exceptional circumstances". The announcement is published in the Official Journal of the EU: https://bit.ly/2S5xugh (HD)