THE EU could be forced to introduce counter measures against the US, if it doesn't back down over plans to impose steel tariffs on European steel imports.

Yorkshire and Humber MEP David Bowe met with EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy yesterday to discuss how the American tariffs, which are as high as 30 per cent for some products, are affecting the EU market.

Steel group Corus employs about 3,000 staff on Teesside, producing the raw materials for the engineering steels business in Rotherham and the strip products business in Port Talbot, South Wales. Both plants export to the US.

Mr Bowe said it was vital that the EU maintained its pressure to persuade the Americans to think again and protect steel jobs in the EU.

Unions fear the imposition of steel tariffs could lead to 18,000 job losses in the European Union, including 5,000 in the UK, and could see the European market flooded by cheap steel from the Far East and eastern Europe.

Mr Bowe said: "When I met with Commissioner Lamy, I got an optimistic response. He is considering introducing counter measures against the US and seeking compensation.

"However, he has urged member states of the EU not to take individual action and believes a united front will be the way to make the US see common sense."

In addition, he said Mr Lamy had called for an meeting with the US ambassador to the EU.

Mr Lamy is due to visit the US next week when he will be seeking meetings with US officials to discuss steel tariffs.

Mr Bowe said: "British MPs are also planning a possible visit to the US to push our case for the steel tariffs to be lifted."

In March, President George W Bush announced he would be imposing tariffs of up to 30 per cent on imported steel while the US steel industry is reorganised.

But the US administration has now indicated it will exempt some steel products that its domestic industry does not produce, offering hope to a number of UK firms.