India’s second request for the establishment of a World Trade Organisation (WTO) panel, to examine its complaint against additional duties imposed by the US on imports of certain steel and aluminium products, has been approved by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB).

In a meeting on Tuesday, the DSB also approved a similar requested by Switzerland.

“Nine dispute panels have now been established by the DSB to rule on the US tariffs,” according to a Geneva-based official.

The other countries that have complained against the decision include China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico , Norway, Russia and Turkey.

In March 2018, the United States of America (USA) had decided to impose penal duties of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium from select countries.

India and most other affected countries have argued that the US actions were, in effect and content, safeguard measures and the US was using national security as a wrong justification for the tariffs.

The US, however, insisted that the tariffs were imposed owing to national security concerns and the WTO had no authority to adjudicate on the matter.

While many of the complainants have imposed retaliatory duties on imports from the US, India is yet to take a decision on implementing the announcement of retaliatory tariffs totalling around $134 million on 29 US imports made in June.

“India and the US are in bilateral discussions for amicably settling the matter but no arrangement has been arrived at yet,” an official said.

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