- Country or region
- United States
- Trade topics
- Dispute settlement
- Context
- WTO - Case launched by the EU
Summary of the case
- Complaint by: EU
- Complaint against: United States
- Third parties: Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Egypt, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela
On 1 June 2018, the European Union requested consultations with the United States concerning certain measures imposed by the United States to allegedly adjust imports of steel and aluminium into the United States.
The European Union claimed that the measures appear to be inconsistent with: Articles 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7, 9, 11.1(a), 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3 of the Agreement on Safeguards; Articles I:1, II:1(a), II:1(b), X:3(a), XI:1, XIX:1(a) and XIX:2 of the GATT 1994; and Article XVI:4 of the WTO Agreement. On 8 June 2018, Japan request to join the consultations. On 13 June 2018, China requested to join the consultations. On 14 June 2018, Thailand and Turkey requested to join the consultations.
On 15 June 2018, Canada, Hong Kong, China, India, Mexico, Norway and the Russian Federation requested to join the consultations. On 18 June 2018, Indonesia requested to join the consultations.
On 11 June 2018, the United States requested the Chair of the DSB to circulate to Members a communication where it indicated that the United States was willing to enter into consultations with the European Union, without prejudice to the US view that the measures imposed by the United States concern issues of national security not susceptible to review or capable of resolution by WTO dispute settlement and that the consultations provisions in the Agreement on Safeguards are not applicable.
In its communication, the United States also referred to the European Union's notification of 18 May 2018 that it intended to suspend concessions and other obligations, pursuant to Article 8.2 of the Agreement on Safeguards.
Status
- Consultations requested: 01 June 2018
- Panel requested: 18 October 2018
- Panel established: 21 November 2018