Canada initiates WTO dispute complaint on US steel, aluminium duties

BERLIN – Canada has requested World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute consultations with the US over its imposition of import duties on certain steel and aluminium products from Canada, the trade body said on March 13.

The request was circulated to WTO members on March 13, it added.

Canada says the measures, which end Canada’s exemption from additional duties on some steel and aluminium products and increase duties on aluminium articles, that took effect on March 12 are inconsistent with US obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, the WTO said in a statement.

US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on March 13, suggested he was not going to change his mind on tariffs.

“We’ve been ripped off for years, and we’re not going to be ripped off any more. I’m not going to bend at all, aluminium or steel or cars,” he said.

The move follows

a separate request by Canada on March 5

for consultations with the US after Mr Trump’s new 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico took effect, along with new duties on Chinese goods.

Mr Trump has declared that the US’ top three trading partners had failed to do enough to stem the flow of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals into the country. REUTERS