U.S. launches five WTO challenges to retaliatory tariffs

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Monday launched five separate World Trade Organization dispute actions challenging retaliatory tariffs imposed by China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico and Turkey following U.S. duties on steel and aluminum.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement that the retaliatory tariffs on up to a combined $28.5 billion worth of U.S. exports are illegal under WTO rules.

“These tariffs appear to breach each WTO member’s commitments under the WTO Agreement,” Lighthizer said. “The United States will take all necessary actions 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.”

Lighthizer’s office has maintained that the steel and aluminum tariffs are acceptable under WTO rules because they were imposed on the grounds of a national security exception.

Lighthizer said last month that retaliation had no legal basis because the EU and other trading partners were making false assertions that the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs are illegal “safeguard” actions intended to protect U.S. producers. [nL1N1TT012]

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