The United States on Monday (16.7.2018) launched five separate actions at the World Trade Organization (WTO), challenging retaliatory tariffs imposed by China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico and Turkey following Washington's levies on steel and aluminum.
Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement release that retaliatory tariffs on up to a combined $28.500 billion in U.S. exports were illegal under WTO rules.
"These tariffs appear to violate each WTO member's commitments under the WTO agreement," Lighthizer said.
"The United States will take all necessary steps to protect our interests, and we urge our trading partners to work constructively with us on the problems created by massive and persistent excess capacity in the steel and aluminum sectors."he added.
Lighthizer's office has maintained that the steel and aluminum tariffs are acceptable under WTO rules because they were imposed on a national security exception basis.
Lighthizer said last month that the retaliation had no legal basis because the European Union and other trading partners were making false claims that the steel and aluminum tariffs were illegal "safeguards" intended to protect U.S. producers.
Source: Reuters
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