US duty on steel, aluminium inconsistent with norms: WTO

New Delhi: A dispute panel of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has ruled that the US decision to impose customs duties on certain steel and aluminium products is inconsistent with the global trade norms.

This ruling was given in the cases brought by China, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey against these duties. The WTO report assumes significance for India also, as the country in 2018 too had approached the Geneva-based WTO against the US move to impose these duties. According to sources here, this ruling will help strengthen the Indian case too.

However, the sources said that India is inclined to resolve the dispute with the US amicably and on mutually agreed terms. India had earlier stated that the imposition of high import duties by the US has impacted exports of these products by Indian businesses. India too has alleged that the US move is also not in compliance with global trade norms. In 2018, the US imposed 25 per cent and 10 per cent import duties on certain steel and aluminium products, respectively, on the grounds of national security. In retaliation to the imposition of duties by the US, India had increased customs duty on a number of American products such as almonds, walnut, iron and steel items.