GENEVA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Roberto Azevedo on Friday expressed the organization's concern over U.S. plans for tariffs on steel and aluminum, in a brief statement.

"The WTO is clearly concerned at the announcement of U.S. plans for tariffs on steel and aluminum," said Azevedo, warning that "the potential for escalation is real, as we have seen from the initial responses of others."

"A trade war is in no-one's interests. The WTO will be watching the situation very closely," he added.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that the U.S. was set to impose 25 percent of tariff on steel imports and 10 percent for aluminum to protect the domestic industries, citing national security concerns.