Specifically the European Commission called for an extra duty of 15 percent to be imposed on products ranging from paper to farm and textile products, in response to Washington's failure to repeal the so-called Byrd Amendment.

"The Commission took this latest step in the dispute over the Byrd Amendment in light of the continuing failure of the United States to bring its legislation in conformity with its international obligations," it said.

The proposed sanctions, if approved by the EU's 25 member states, would come into effect from May 1,

Under the 2000 law, the US government redistributed anti-dumping duties to the US companies that alleged dumping, or the selling of items abroad at less than the market price in the domestic market.

The EU and six other countries (Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, South Korea) took the case to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which last year authorized sanctions amounting to 72 percent of the sums reaped by the US law.

The EU executive said its proposed level of sanctions was based on the latest distribution of duties made under the Byrd Amendment, amounting to slightly under 28 million US dollars.

"This level will be revised annually to adjust to the level of damage caused to EU companies," the commission said.

In addition the EU has drawn up a "reserve list" of products which could become subject to addition import duties if necessary.