The WTO has Postponed a Decision on the United States' Steel and Aluminium Tariff Disputes with India and Five Other Countries

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has delayed its decision on the United States' dispute with India, China, Russia, and three other countries over higher tariffs on some steel and aluminium products until the second half of this year, citing the "complexity of the issue."

“Due to the complexity of the dispute, the Panel now expects to issue its final report to the parties no earlier than the last quarter of 2022,” a Geneva-based official said.

Norway, Turkey, and Switzerland had also taken the United States to the World Trade Organization in response to Washington's decision to impose 25% and 10% import duties on certain steel and aluminium products in 2018. The US claimed the duties were necessary for national security.

India had complained that the duties violated provisions of the World Trade Organization's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and the Agreement on Safeguards. As the basis for the complaint, New Delhi listed multiple violations of WTO norms, such as discrimination against its imports, the imposition of restrictions in the form of quotas, and the use of tariffs to persuade other countries to agree to "voluntary export restraints," after which a panel was established by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in December 2018.