US steel tariffs

On March 5, 2002 United States president George W. Bush announced that the US would impose tariffs of up to 30% on 15 imported steel-products, starting March 20 and lasting 3 years. The move had been discussed since late December, 2001 and was widely criticized by, among others, European Union Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy[?].

On March 27 the European Union (EU) approved the use of retalitary tariffs against the United States (ranging between 14.9% and 26% on 15 products for six months) starting June 18. This was later moved to July 3, and then to September 30. On September 25, these actions were finally "put on ice", saying they will brought up after the next World Trade Organization (WTO) round in March, 2003.

On June 3 the WTO agreed to an investigation concerning whether or not the United States had broken any international trade laws.

The United States eventually made concessions on July 11 and August 22 retracting tariffs on some products, which further stalled the EU's retalitory actions.

(this needs clearing up + non-european views on the tariffs)