BRUSSELS, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The European Union and the United States will talk about trade, including the looming metal tariffs from the U.S., according to a joint official statement on Wednesday.

EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom met U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in Washington to seek an exemption from tariffs on steel and aluminum exports to the U.S., which are expected to kick in starting on March 23.

"We have agreed to launch immediately a process of discussion with President Trump and the Trump Administration on trade issues of common concern, including steel and aluminum, with a view to identifying mutually acceptable outcomes as rapidly as possible," the statement said.

Trump on March 8 signed proclamations to impose a 25-percent tariff on imported steel and a 10-percent tariff on aluminum, causing mounting dissent among business groups and trading partners around the world.