BERLIN -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday called for talks on trade policy between the European Union and the United States in a telephone call with US President Donald Trump.

"The Chancellor called for a dialogue between the European Union and the United States of America on trade policy, taking into account the rules-based international trade system," German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said in a statement.

The United States has excluded the EU and six other countries from higher US import duties on steel and aluminum.

The two leaders reaffirmed the desire for continued close cooperation between the two governments, according to Seibert.

In light of Salisbury's nerve gas incident, Merkel and Trump underscored their solidarity with Britain, according to Seibert's statement.