The UAE is asking Washington to exempt it from new US tariffs on aluminium and steel and believes it has a strong case, a senior government official said on Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump is pressing ahead with imposing import tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium, but has already exempted neighbouring Canada and Mexico and offered to exclude allies. The UAE is the third-largest exporter of aluminium to the United States, after China and Russia, and also sells its steel there. Juma al-Kait, assistant undersecretary for foreign trade affairs at the UAE economy ministry, told Reuters that officials were speaking with members of the U.S. administration.