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The US on Thursday, 4 July, dragged India to the WTO by filing a complaint against New Delhi's move to increase customs duties on 28 American goods, alleging the decision is inconsistent with global trade norms.
According to a communication of the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO), the US said the additional duties imposed by India "appear to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to the US directly or indirectly" under the GATT 1994.
What Has the US Told WTO?
The US has alleged that the duties imposed by India appears to be inconsistent with two norms of GATT.
The US has stated that India does not impose these duties on like products originating in the territory of any other WTO member nation.
The duties are inconsistent because "India fails to extend to products of the US an advantage, favour, privilege or immunity granted by India with respect to customs duties and charges of any kind imposed on or in connection with the importation of products originating in the territory of other members...," the US has alleged.
As part of the dispute, the US has sought consultations with India under the aegis of the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism.
What May WTO Do Now?
As per the WTO's dispute settlement process, the request for consultations is the first step in a dispute.
Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation.
This case assumes significance as officials of both the countries would be meeting next week here to discuss trade related issues.
The two countries are also at loggerheads at the WTO on other issues. The US has challenged certain export promotion schemes of India, while India has challenged USA's unilateral hike on customs duties on certain steel and aluminium products.
What’s the Background?
The US has rolled back export incentives from India under its GSP programme and New Delhi has imposed higher customs duties on 28 American products, including almond, pulses, walnut, chickpeas, boric acid and binders for foundry moulds.
The duties were hiked as retaliation to the US move to impose the highest customs duties on certain steel and aluminium goods.
India's exports to the US in 2017-18 stood at $47.9 billion, while imports were at $26.7 billion. The trade balance is in favour of India.
(Edited for clarity.)
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