US Rejects India's WTO Challenge on Auto Duties

This came just after the US brushed aside India's long-pending case on steel and aluminum duties

- Dhirendra Kumar

NEW DELHI: The US has rejected India's second attempt within days to challenge American tariffs at the World Trade Organization (WTO)—this time over automobiles and auto parts.

Washington has turned down India's 'notice for consultations' on the US's 25% tariff on auto components, asserting that the auto duties were imposed on national security grounds and so are not subject to multilateral trade rules, as per a WTO paper.

This comes just days after the US brushed aside India's long-pending case on steel and aluminum duties. To be sure, as with that dispute, New Delhi reserves its right to impose retaliatory duties on US automobile tariffs, an official at India's commerce ministry said, requesting anonymity.