German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday signaled the willingness to have a discussion with the United States over the trade dispute on steel and aluminum shortly before the tariff exemptions expire on June 1.

　　File photo of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. [Photo: AP]

　　Merkel told a conference in Berlin that she still hoped there would be no need for the EU to implement retaliatory measures in its trade dispute with the United States.

　　It was about finding the right answer, Merkel said, referring to the "Sword of Damocles" of U.S. President Donald Trump's bullying and protectionist attitude in trade issue.

　　Trump announced that EU companies would only be exempted from U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum introduced by June 1. The U.S. government is also checking to impose import tariffs on cars.

　　Merkel reiterated the importance of multilateral organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), which is about a free, open and fair world trade system and against protectionism.