Russia requests WTO consultation on 232

Russia wants to join China and other nations in lodging a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the United States’ Section 232 tariffs and quotas against imported steel and aluminium.

Russia said it needs to be part of a consultation process with the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body because it exports significant amounts of both steel and aluminium to the US, according to a notice dated Thursday April 19.

The manufacturing powerhouse exported 625,792 tonnes of aluminium to US ports from January-October 2017, making it the second-largest supplier of the light metal to the country. During the same period, Russia shipped 3.12 million tonnes of steel to the US, making it the fifth-largest offshore supplier, the notice said, citing US Commerce Department data.

Section 232, therefore, has a “significant detrimental effect on Russia’s trade interest,” according to the notice.

The US has imposed tariffs of 25% against foreign steel from some nations and 10% duties versus imported aluminum.

The EU has also requested consultations with the WTO over Section 232.