Tokyo: Japan on March 20 lodged an official protest with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against a decision by Washington to slap new tariffs on steel imports, the trade ministry said.

"Today, we brought an action to the WTO against the US decision," said an official from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

"We also notified the United States of our action," the official said. As a first step, Tokyo will hold consultations with Washington. If the two sides fail to reach an agreement, a dispute panel will be set up in the WTO.

"From now on, we will co-operate with Europe and other countries to argue by pointing out the problem with the US measures," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told reporters.

"The US measures do not meet what the WTO rules require," Fukuda said. "We cannot ignore the measures, considering the importance of maintaining and strengthening the WTO regime."

The action came after the US started applying on March 20 three-year "safeguard" tariffs of up to 30 per cent on steel imports, Japanese officials said.

The European Union (EU), which has already filed an official complaint with the WTO over the move, began consultations with the US side on March 19 in Geneva.