Source: WTO calls arbiters over US–Russia duty dispute

BRUSSELS, Dec 18 (PRIME) -- The WTO Dispute Settlement Body has called for an arbiter panel in a U.S. dispute against Russia’s introduction of import duties on some U.S. goods as a response to U.S. import duties on steel and aluminum, a source familiar with the negotiations told PRIME on Tuesday.

Washington introduced 25% and 10% import duties on steel and aluminum, respectively, in March, and Russia retaliated with duties on some U.S. goods in August.

“The WTO Dispute Settlement Body agreed to call an arbiter panel on a second request from the U.S. for a solution on additional duties that were introduced by Russia on some imports from the U.S. as retaliation to the U.S. duties on imports of steel and aluminum,” the source said.

Russia blocked the first U.S. request for an arbiter panel on December 4, but the WTO rules prohibit Moscow from blocking the second request. So far, the WTO created five arbiter panels on Washington’s requests against import duties introduced by Canada, China, the E.U., Mexico, and Russia.

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