EU trade chiefs are considering slapping 25% tariffs on around $3.5bn (£2.5bn) of imports from the US, Reuters news agency reports.

World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevedo said: "A trade war is in no one's interests."

The rhetoric ramped up as Mr Trump tweeted that "trade wars are good".

International condemnation has greeted the US president's Thursday announcement that he plans to impose a 25% tariff on steel imports and 10% on aluminium next week.

What are EU officials saying?

The European Union is reported to be considering retaliatory tariffs, targeting US steel, agriculture and other products.

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker promised to react firmly.