The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that the European Union (EU) has notified the WTO’s dispute settlement body, the government of the US and the government of China that it requests to join the dispute settlement request of China against the US. On April 9, China filed for dispute settlement regarding the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs of the US after its consultation request for the tariffs was declined by the US.
The EU has noted in its application that the request for consultations relates to measures applied by the US since March 23, 2018 on certain imports of steel and aluminum products from all countries of the world, except a number of WTO members. The EU is presently among those WTO members excluded, but that exclusion is temporary only. The EU stated that, therefore, the US measures have a substantial impact on the sale and exportation of EU steel and aluminum products covered by the US measures, giving the EU a substantial trade interest in these consultations. The EU previously requested consultations with the US, but this request was turned down by the US.
According to the WTO, India, Thailand, Russia and Hong Kong have also notified the WTO of their requests to join the consultations sought by China against the US.