DUESSELDORF, Germany, March 12 (Reuters) - Salzgitter

urges the European Union to stand together in the face

of U.S. tariffs on steel imports and use talks with Washington

to seek an agreement, the German steelmaker said on Wednesday.

"It is now important that the EU acts in a united, planned

and rapid manner," including by adjusting its own protective

measures, Salzgitter said in a statement.

"We continue to call on the EU to remain in talks with the

US on a sectoral agreement," the statement said.

(Reporting by Tom Kaeckenhoff, writing by Rachel More, editing

by Thomas Seythal)