US rejects India's safeguard claim on 50% copper tariffs

US says Section 232 tariffs for security interests are not safeguards; development comes amid bilateral trade talks

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The US has rejected India's claim that the 50 per cent tariffs imposed by Washington on copper are safeguard measures under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, stating there is no basis for New Delhi's proposal to suspend duty concessions on American goods.

The tariffs were imposed on August 1.

As India is an exporter of copper products to the US, it has sought consultations with the US on the matter under the WTO safeguard agreement in September.