PARIS, Feb 25, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - European industry ministers will meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss measures to maintain steel production in Europe in response to US tariffs, France's industry ministry announced late Monday.

Europe's steel industry is reeling from US President Donald Trump's executive order to impose 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from March 12, despite warnings from Brussels.

Ministers from some 15 European steel producing countries are expected at the Paris meeting, the French ministry said.

Participants will share findings and solutions with other stakeholders in the steel industry "both companies and unions" and are expected to sign a joint declaration on protecting Europe's steel industry, the ministry said.

The sector, which employs more than 300,000 workers in Europe, has already been buffeted by Chinese low-cost steel overproduction and high energy prices in Europe.

The European Union has already said the tariffs are unjustified and economically counterproductive.

In 2018, Trump slapped tariffs during his first presidency on steel and aluminium exports -- forcing the EU to respond with its own higher duties.