The US said last night it was still considering requests for exemptions from its hotly disputed steel tariffs despite the expiry of a July 3rd deadline.

Trade sources said the US Trade Representative (USTR) office could announce exemptions after the deadline.

"The Office of the US Trade Representative announced today that it is continuing to make progress in considering exclusions," the USTR said. The US government had received more than 1,200 requests for steel products to be excluded.

The US provoked an angry reaction overseas when in March it decided to impose tariffs of up to 30 per cent on steel imports. The three-year tariffs were imposed under trade law, which allows President Bush to shield domestic industries from damaging increases in imports.

The US had already agreed to exclude 224 products in decisions announced last month, the USTR said. - (AFP)