India files WTO case against US over steel and aluminum tariffs

India requested on Wednesday World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute consultations with the United States over President Trump’s decision to impose steep duties on imported steel and aluminum.

The South Asian nation said it plans to impose additional duties on U.S. goods totaling $165.56 million, which they argue is the amount of trade affected by the duties of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum.

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The additional tariffs will be imposed on 20 tariff lines, which include chickpeas, cashews, walnuts and wheat, and are expected to be implemented before June 21 as long as the United States continues the steel and aluminum duties.

India said that the United States had so far declined India’s request for consultations on the metals tariffs.

India argues that the U.S. duties on steel and aluminum are inconsistent with provisions of the WTO’s General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and of the Agreement on Safeguards.

“The suspension of concessions will continue to apply until the United States’ safeguard measures are lifted,” India wrote in its WTO filing.

On May 18, in response to the tariffs, India notified the WTO’s Goods Council of its plans to suspend concessions on a wide range of U.S. imports.

Trump imposed the tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum over national security concerns.

South Korea is exempted from the tariffs after agreeing to lower its metals imports.

Mexico and Canada have a waiver in place during negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Several other nations, including Australia and Argentina, are in talks with the United States to win exemptions with final deals expected later this month.

U.S. officials had initially said there was a deal in the works with Brazil, but trade officials from the South American country said talks were cut off by the Trump administration. 

The European Union said it also is in discussions to earn a break from the steep tariffs.

Congressional lawmakers have urged Trump to forgo the tariffs, especially for key U.S. allies, and instead focus on China.