Trade Cases

Brazil Initiates Complaint to WTO Against US

Written by Sandy Williams


Brazil has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the United States over countervailing measures on imports of Brazilian cold- and hot-rolled steel flat products and requests dispute consultations with the U.S.

In the November 11 filing, Brazil alleges the U.S. has been inconsistent with a number of procedural and substantive provisions under the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM agreement) and Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994.

The WTO says a request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. During the consultations parties have an opportunity to discuss the matter and find a satisfactory solution without proceeding to litigation. If a dispute is not resolved within 60 days, the complainant may request adjudication by a WTO panel.

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