41.   Diplomatic sources said that Japan had asked on Friday for clarifications from Beijing about its steel tariffs.

42.   Earlier this week the United States urged the European Union to abandon plans to retaliate against US steel import tariffs, saying such action would flout world trade rules.

43.   European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy warned Tuesday the EU retaliation against US steel tariffs could come within a matter of days.

44.   The US steel tariffs became effective on Wednesday.

45.   The WTO is currently considering filings against the US steel tariffs by Europe and Japan.

46.   US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said Tuesday he would defend US interests to the hilt and defied European criticism of hefty new US farm subsidies and steel tariffs.

47.   Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz on Friday accused the United States of hypocrisy and double standards over its controversial move to increase steel tariffs.

48.   On Tuesday the European Commission also presented two lists of US products for retaliatory tariffs in response to the US steel tariffs.

49.   Russia may benefit from further exclusions to restrictive American steel tariffs, soon to be announced in Washington, the US Deputy Secretary of Commerce William Lash said Wednesday.

50.   Russia, too, has warned that steel import tariffs would fray its relationship with the United States.