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United States files WTO complaint over India's steel tariffs

04 July 2019 18:06 (UTC +04:00)

The US move comes amid reports indicating that a US delegation will visit New Delhi in the coming days to resume bilateral talks with India on trade tariffs, APA reports citing Sputnik.

The United States has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation in regards to Indian retaliatory tariffs against US steel and aluminium levies imposed by Washington last year.

Washington earlier issued similar complaints against China, the EU and other entities that imposed countermeasures against US economic pressure.

The move to add India to the steel tariffs dispute at the WTO comes in spite of indications of a thaw in bilateral relations between the US and India.

In June, India slapped tariffs on as many as 28 US products in retaliation to high tariffs on imported steel and aluminium imposed by Washington.

Last week, US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced their wilingness to continue trade talks as they spoke on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Osaka.

After the talks, both leaders expressed hope that they would be able to resolve existing trade disagreement, including with regard to previously introduced tariffs.

The United States imposed 25 per cent and 10 per cent tariffs on imported steel and aluminium, respectively, in March 2018. As one of the largest steel producers in the world, India immediately condemned the move.