US Accepts Consultations With EU, India, China on Recent Tariffs

The U.S. agreed on April 19 to enter consultations on its Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum with the European Union and India. The action follows its announcement April 17 that it would consult with China on the matter. In all cases, the U.S. says the tariffs are not safeguards, as the countries allege, and that they are not subject to World Trade Organization dispute settlement because they are matters of national security.

The U.S. also agreed to talk with China about proposed Section 301 tariffs, even though it says China is not yet entitled to consultations since no tariffs have actually been levied. "At such consultations, the United States looks forward to hearing from China how it intends to address China's trade-distorting policies addressed in the US investigation mentioned in China's letter to support fairness in the international trading system," the letter, released April 17, said. The U.S. added: "At the consultations, the United States looks forward to hearing China's justification for deciding to impose these additional tariffs" on soybeans, airplanes, chemicals, autos and other products.

The U.S. has not yet responded to Thailand and Russia's request for consultations on the Section 232 tariffs, which were submitted at the WTO on April 19.