Trade Cases

India Appeals Section 232 Tariffs to WTO
Written by Sandy Williams
May 24, 2018
India is disputing the legality of Section 232 tariffs and quota arrangements by the United States, claiming violations of the GATT and Safeguards Agreement.
India filed an official request with the World Trade Organization for dispute settlement consultations with the United States. India joins several other nations which dismiss the claim that imports of aluminum and steel are threatening U.S. national security. India, China, Russia, Japan, Turkey and the EU have labeled the tariffs safeguard measures under WTO rules, entitling them to a combined $3.5 billion in annual compensation. The nations have informed the WTO they may increase duties on U.S. goods in retaliation under WTO safeguard rules to balance the effects of the U.S tariffs.
India asserts that quota deals arranged by the U.S with Argentina, Brazil, South Korea and Australia are voluntary export restraints prohibited by WTO rules.
Article 11.1(b) of the Agreement on Safeguards and Article XI:1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade states that “a Member shall not seek, take, or maintain any voluntary export restraints, orderly marketing arrangements or any other similar measures on the export or the import side.” GATT Article XI:1 states that WTO members may not maintain trade restrictions other than duties, taxes or other charges.
India also asserts that the U.S. is not applying tariffs and quotas uniformly to nations that export steel and aluminum to the U.S., thereby discriminating against products originating from India.
The WTO must respond to India’s May 18 consultation request within 10 days, and enter into consultations within 30 days. If after 60 days the U.S. and India have not resolved the issues, India can request the establishment of a dispute settlement panel.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Trade Cases

Industry piles on new Section 232 steel derivative inclusion requests
The Department of Commerce received 97 submissions from producers, manufacturers, and groups seeking Section 232 tariff coverage for steel and aluminum derivative products.

Price on Trade: New EU steel tariffs don’t mean the US should weaken its stance
Any steel imports into the EU that exceed the new, lower quota level would be subject to a 50% tariff, which represents a major increase from the EU’s current 25% out-of-quota tariff. This move would largely align the EU’s steel tariff rate with Canada and the United States.

Global steel forum sets 2026 framework deadline as US ups pressure on excess capacity
Global steelmakers sounded the alarm Friday over the deepening excess steelmaking capacity crisis. Ministers at the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC) in Gqeberha, South Africa, pledged to...

CRU: China’s indirect steel exports find new destination markets
The boom in China’s direct steel exports has not stopped this year, even with a rise in protectionist measures globally. The increase is driven by...

U.S. Steel sues Algoma over iron pellet shipments
U.S. Steel is suing Algoma over the Canadian flat-rolled producer's rejection of iron pellet shipments, arguing it has breached its contract.