US rejects India’s request for WTO consultation on 50% copper tariffs

New Delhi: The US has rejected India’s request for consultations at the WTO on Washington’s 50% tariffs on copper and copper derivative products, arguing the tariffs are not safeguard measures as indicated by New Delhi.

It told the WTO that there was “no basis” for India to conduct consultations.

Earlier this month, India sought consultations with the US under the WTO agreement on safeguards.

This is the third case of India seeking such consultations with the US and Washington refusing – after steel and aluminium, and automobiles and auto components.

The US imposed a 50% tariff on copper input value of semi-finished and derivative copper imports starting August 1 under Section 232 of its Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The measure applies for an unlimited duration.

Section 232 authorises the US president to adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives that threaten to impair the national security.”The United States is not maintaining this action pursuant to the safeguards / emergency action provision…and the Agreement on Safeguards (AoS). These tariffs are, therefore, not safeguard measures, and there is no basis to conduct consultations under the AoS with respect to these measures,” the US told the WTO.The issues are being taken up at the multilateral trade body even as the two sides thrash out a bilateral trade agreement (BTA). American negotiators were in New Delhi on Tuesday for day-long talks on India-US trade ties, including the proposed BTA.