Minister: Russia suits new US steel, aluminum duties in WTO

MOSCOW, Jun 29 (PRIME) -- Russia has sent a claim against additional U.S. import duties on steel and aluminum to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Development Ministry said in a statement on Friday, citing Minister Maxim Oreshkin.

“The reason for the claim is multiple WTO rule violations committed by the U.S. during the introduction of this measure. Besides Russia, China, India, the E.U., Canada, Mexico and Norway have sent such claims earlier,” Oreshkin said.

He said that the WTO will organize consultations on the claim and if they are fruitless, Russia can ask the organization to convoke an arbitration group.

The U.S. slapped steel and aluminum import duties at the end of March; Russia said in a document sent to the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it had plans to introduce U.S. $537.6 million duties on U.S. goods amounting to $3.16 billion.

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