Germany not interested in tariff dispute with US, welcomes EU talks

BERLIN, March 12 (Reuters) - Germany is not interested in a tariff dispute, which benefits noone, and welcomes the EU's decision to resume talks with the U.S., an economy ministry spokesperson said after increased tariffs on all U.S. steel and aluminium imports took effect.

"We stand for clear trade rules and, at the same time, for a global, free trade area that functions on a rules-based basis, as stipulated by the WTO," said an economy ministry spokesperson at a regular government news conference in Berlin on Wednesday.

"The Commission has also announced that it will conduct further negotiations, further talks with the U.S. government. We can only welcome this; it is necessary because, as I said, we are not interested in a tariff dispute," added the spokesperson.