KIEV, Oct. 23 - Ukraine and the European Union could have a new agreement on trade in selected steel commodities in 2007 ready by the end of 2006, Roelof Plijter, head of the European Commission Directorate-General for Trade, told a metals forum in Kiev.

The EC has not yet been mandated to conduct the negotiations and sign a new agreement, but expects to be mandated in the second half of November, Plijter said.