By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- The European Union said Wednesday it will decide soon whether to impose trade sanctions on the United States over antidumping legislation after receiving authorization to do so from the World Trade Organization.

European Commission trade spokeswoman Arancha Gonzalez said the EU head office would talk with the governments of the 25 EU states and the other seven nations that joined it in securing WTO backing for sanctions Tuesday.

``In the coming days we will be discussing whether or not we should be imposing sanctions, when it will be, on which products, for which amounts,'' Gonzalez said.

EU trade experts are expected to discuss the issue Sept. 10.

The EU, Japan and the other complainants have hinted that they will hold off with the sanctions in the hope that Washington will quickly repeal the contested legislation, known as the Byrd Amendment, which allows American companies to receive proceeds from antidumping duties levied on foreign rivals.