Canada and the EU have formally requested dispute consultations with the World Trade Organization regarding the US Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, the WTO said Wednesday.
The EU and Canada claim in separate filings that US duties of 25% on steel imports and 10% on aluminum imports are inconsistent with provisions of the WTO's General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade and with the WTO's agreement on safeguards. India and China have filed requests for dispute consultations with the WTO over the US metals tariffs on similar grounds.
The EU and Canada had received temporary exemptions to the US tariffs on steel and aluminum when they took effect March 23. But the US announced May 31 those exemptions would not be continued and imports from Canada, the EU and Mexico would be subject the the tariffs beginning June 1.
The European Commission on Wednesday also said it would impose duties on selected US imports beginning in July (See story, 1146 GMT).
