India Blocks US Request For Dispute Panel At WTO Against Its Retaliatory Tariffs

Duties on trade worth $1.1 b are inconsistent with WTO provisions, maintains Washington

- Amiti Sen

India has blocked the first request from the US to establish a dispute settlement panel at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to rule on the country’s decision to impose additional import duties on 28 American products.

“The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the WTO, which met on Monday in Geneva, agreed to India’s suggestion of blocking the setting up of a panel as it was the first such request from the US,” a Geneva-based trade official told BusinessLine.

If India is not able to convince the US to withdraw the complaint and there is a second request for a dispute panel, the DSB will have to oblige, as per rules, and a panel will be set up to rule on the matter.