31.   Two possible solutions include the United States excluding Japan from steel tariffs, or the United States lowering tariffs on other Japanese goods.

32.   U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick defended the recent U.S. decision to levy steel tariffs Thursday.

33.   U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans on Wednesday defended newly imposed steel tariffs as necessary to protect American steel workers.

34.   U.S. trading partners have said the steel tariffs are setback for world trade.

35.   His comments came as new farm subsidies and steel tariffs in the US threatened to derail attempts to further open world markets.

36.   In Tokyo on Thursday, Japan threatened retaliation against the US steel tariffs if demands for compensation were not met.

37.   In turn, the US steel tariffs could prove devastating for Russian steel exporters, industry experts said.

38.   A senior finance official said Friday Ottawa launched an investigation to safeguard against the possible flood of cheap steel imports into Canada following the US imposition of steel tariffs.

39.   Asia-Pacific business leaders called on the United States Wednesday to set a better example in international trade following its imposition of new steel tariffs and agricultural subsidies.

40.   Currently, the highest EU steel tariff is five percent, applicable to special products like pipes and tubes.