Russia joins the league to take action against US on metal duties

Zurich, July 3: Joining the league, Russia entered in becoming the latest country to join in with five other countries and the European Union to take action through the World Trade Organization against the United States over the Trump administration’s steel and aluminum duties.

Moscow has begun a dispute complaint against the U.S. over the 25% tariffs on steel and 10% tariffs on aluminum, by circulating the request on Monday among WTO members in Geneva. With the move, Russia joins China, India, the EU, Canada, Mexico and Norway in launching such a dispute complaint.

The step sets off a period of consultation between the sides to discuss the matter, and if no accord is reached after 60 days, Russia can ask a WTO panel to intervene. Russia also requested consultations with the United States in the framework of the WTO dispute settlement procedure, Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin said on Friday.

Recently, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said European Union (EU) will implement counter-measures against US tariffs on Steel and Aluminium just like Canada. In an interview following the G7 summit, Merkel said the European Union is preparing counter-measures against US tariffs on steel and Aluminium imports, in line with World Trade Organisation rules.