US risks trade fight with Europe as sanctions delay expires

The Trump administration risks igniting a trade battle with Europe just as it's preparing for tense trade talks in China this week.

Trump is considering whether to permanently exempt the European Union and five other countries from tariffs that his administration imposed last month on imported steel and aluminum. The White House provided temporary exemptions in March and has until the end of Monday to decide whether to extend them.

If it loses its exemption, the EU has said it will retaliate with its own tariffs on U.S. goods imported to Europe.

The confrontation stems from the president's decision in March to slap tariffs of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on imported aluminum. Trump said the move was needed to protect American metal producers from unfair competition.