Britain defends U.S. in EU tariff spat

LONDON, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Britain sided with the United States Tuesday on environment-related tariffs the European Union wants to impose on U.S. products.

Monday night, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso announced the tariffs in Brussels, which British Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said was a surprise.

Barroso said the tariffs would level the playing field for union countries, which have stricter environmental standards to follow, the Times of London reported.

In a BBC interview, Wicks said Britain was opposed to the U.S. tariffs.

"We are against any measures which might look like trade barriers," he said. "There is always the danger that the protectionists in Europe -- and they do exist -- could use this as a kind of secret weapon to bring about protectionism."

The move also upset U.S. officials, including Trade Representative Susan Schwab.

"We have been dismayed at a variety of suggestions where we see climate or the environment being used as an excuse to close markets," she said.