India drags U.S. to WTO over duties on select steel products

India has moved the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the U.S. for imposing duties on import of certain Indian steel products. “On April 12, 2012, India requested consultations with the U.S. under the dispute settlement system concerning the latter's countervailing duties on certain steel products from India,” the WTO said. According to WTO website, more details on the trade dispute will be made available in the next few days. Countervailing duties are imposed to neutralise the subsidies on products given by the exporting nation. The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Recently, India had also dragged the U.S. to the WTO challenging the visa fee hike which allegedly discriminates against the Indian software companies sending professionals to the U.S. on short-term contracts. Earlier in March, Washington had also dragged New Delhi to the global trade body against India's ban on imports of certain American farm products, including poultry meat and eggs. The U.S. had termed the ban as “unjustified” health-safety worries. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel. Keywords: World Trade Organisation