The EU has said it "strongly" regrets Donald Trump's surprise plan to double US tariffs on steel and aluminium in a move that risks throwing bilateral trade talks into chaos.
On Friday, the US president told a rally in the steel-making city of Pittsburgh that the tariffs would rise from 25% to 50%, claiming this would boost local industry and national supplies.
The European Commission told the BBC on Saturday that Trump's latest move on tariffs "undermines ongoing efforts" to reach a deal, warning about "countermeasures".
This also raises questions about the UK's zero tariff deal with the US on steel and aluminium which, although agreed, has not yet been signed.
UK steelmakers said the doubling of the tariffs is "yet another body blow" to the industry while a UK government spokesman said "we are engaging with the US on the implications of the latest tariff announcement and to provide clarity for industry".
The UK – which left the EU following the 2016 Brexit referendum – was the first country to clinch a trade deal with the US earlier this month.
