On 23 May India called on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to initiate dispute consultations with the United States of America (US) regarding US duties on certain imported steel and aluminium products. The request was circulated to WTO members on the day.
India claims the US duties of 25% ad valorem and 10% ad valorem on imports of steel and aluminium products respectively are inconsistent with provisions of the WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and of the Agreement on Safeguards.
By way of a reminder, the request for consultations gives the WTO implicated parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.