* Trump's import tariff plans hit miners
* BHP down 1.6 pct
* Aussie shares fall for third straight session (Updates to close)
March 2 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended lower on Fridayas U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to impose tariffs onsteel and aluminum imports hit commodity prices and sparkedfears of a trade war.
The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO fell for a third consecutivesession, losing 0.7 percent, or 44.4 points to end at 5,928.9.The benchmark closed 1.4 percent lower this week, having gainedin the previous two weeks.
The world's biggest miner BHP Billiton (LON:BLT) BHP.AX closed 1.6percent lower at a near three week low. BHP's AmericanDepository Receipts BHP.N closed down 1.7 percent on Thursday.
Steel futures SRBcv1 dropped 1 percent at 3,997 yuan($629) a tonne by 0255 GMT, while iron ore DCIOcv1 on theDalian Commodities exchange fell 1.2 percent. IRONORE/
Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX fell 1.3 percent to a three week low,while shares of broader metals and mining stocks .AXMM ended 1percent lower.
Trump's decision has prompted major trade partners likeCanada to warn of retaliation, in what could potentially be ablow to the global economy. that that the U.S. Federal Reserve will raiseinterest rates up to four times this year kept other sectorssubdued. The benchmark Aussie financials index .AXFJ fell 0.5percent, in line with its U.S. peer. .SPSY of the 'Big four' banks were lower, losing between 0.1percent and 0.8 percent, while Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX ended flat.
Meanwhile, gold stocks .AXGD defied the trend, rising 1.1percent, with Newcrest Mining NCM.AX leading the way as goldprices edged away from two-month lows. GOL/
New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 fell 0.7percent or 54.29 points to close the session at 8,288.42, andwere marginally down for the week.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation FPH.NZ led thelosses after falling 3.1 percent, while Auckland InternationalAirport AIA.NZ dropped 1.7 percent.