OSLO, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Norway is worried about increasing protectionist measures by the United States after Washington decided to impose steel and aluminum tariffs on the European Union (EU), Canada and Mexico, online newspaper Norway Today reported Friday.
"I am worried that the U.S. is now stepping up further protectionist measures in trade policy," Norway's Foreign Affairs Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide was quoted as saying.
"Using national security as an argument for introducing additional tariffs contributes to weakening U.S. credibility," Soreide said. "At the same time, the measure contributes to undermining the rule-based multilateral trading system."
Her comments came after it became clear that the United States will not provide new exceptions to the steel and aluminum rods from the EU, Canada and Mexico.
The Norwegian minister said there are no clarifications regarding Norway.
"We continue to pursue the case in all channels, and are also working closely with the EU to prevent Norway from being affected by any safeguards the EU implements to protect the European market," Soreide said.
In March, the United States imposed a 25-percent tariff on imported steel and a 10-percent tariff on imported aluminum. Norway has never been exempt from the U.S. tariffs.
