European Commission (EC) said that the European Union's (EU) member states had voted in favour of its proposal to introduce trade countermeasures against the United States in response to the U.S. March decision to impose tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from the region. Thus, 25% tariffs on $23 bln of U.S. goods will start being collected as of 15 April. "These countermeasures can be suspended at any time, should the US agree to a fair and balanced negotiated outcome," the EC added.