India has sought consultations with the European Union (EU) under the aegis of WTO against a move of the 28-nation bloc to impose safeguard duties on certain steel products.

The country has sought these consultations under WTO’s Agreement on Safeguards. Against the US move to impose high customs duties on certain steel and aluminium products, the EU in July last year proposed imposition of definitive safeguard duties to protect their industry against a surge of imports. India is concerned about the European Union’s move as it exports nearly 6 per cent of its steel output to Italy. Italy is a member of the EU.