EU trade chief says U.S. not seeking deal to avert tariffs

By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Trump administration does not seem to be engaging in talks to avert trade conflict with the European Union, the EU's trade chief said on Monday, two days before the United States is set to impose tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports.

European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told reporters in Brussels that he had travelled to Washington last month with the aim of starting a dialogue to avoid "the unnecessary pain of measures and countermeasures".

The two sides identified a few areas of mutual benefit to pursue, Sefcovic said.

"But in the end, one hand cannot clap. The U.S. administration does not seem to be engaging to make a deal," he continued.

Sefcovic said that the European Union was ready for constructive engagement, that no one wins from tariffs and that partners with 1.6 trillion euros ($1.7 trillion) of mutual trade should be "extremely careful".

"So our doors are open. But of course, if this would not bring the positive result, in that case we will always protect European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified tariffs," he said.

"I think we've been very clear about it and I know they expect no less from us."

($1 = 0.9223 euros)

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop and Bart Meijer, Editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Toby Chopra)