India moves WTO against US steel duties
12 Apr 2012
Close on the heels of its challenging US visa curbs in the World Trade Organisation, India today launched a trade dispute to challenge US duties on certain steel products.
The World Trade Organisation merely said on its website today that India has requested consultations with the US under the dispute settlement system concerning the latter's countervailing duties on certain steel products from India.
The request for consultations is the first stage of a formal trade dispute. Consultations give the 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.
Countries impose countervailing duties to offset another country's subsidies suspected of giving an unfair trade advantage.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.
India has also moved the WTO against the huge cost of US work visas that it says discriminates against certain information technology firms based in India.