BERLIN, March 12 (Reuters) - Germany's BGA exporters

group welcomed on Wednesday the European Commission's response

to the imposition of U.S. tariffs on steel and other goods but

added that the door must stay open for further talks.

"An immediate and clear response from the EU Commission is

the right reaction," BGA President Dirk Jandura said in a

statement. "At the same time, the door must remain open for

further talks and the Commission must seek dialogue to mediate."

"Our goal is not a trade war, but an agreement on free trade

and the movement of goods between our trading areas," he said.

(Writing by Madeline Chambers, Editing by Rachel More)