The World Trade Organization (WTO) has found that tariffs on steel and aluminium imports that were imposed by the US under former President Donald Trump violate global trade rules.

Mr Trump had claimed national security concerns when he announced the new border taxes in 2018, sparking a wave of trade fights around the world.

The WTO rebuffed that argument, saying the duties did not come “at a time of war or other emergency”.

The US said it stood by the tariffs.

The US “strongly rejects” the ruling and has no intention of removing the measures, assistant US trade representative Adam Hodge said.

“The Biden administration is committed to preserving US national security by ensuring the long-term viability of our steel and aluminium industries,” he said, adding that the reports “only reinforce the need to fundamentally reform the WTO dispute settlement system”.