Moscow has not so far received a proposal from Ankara to unite efforts on the dispute complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over additional import duties imposed by Washington on Turkish steel and aluminum, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development told Sputnik on Tuesday.
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 21st August, 2018) Moscow has not so far received a proposal from Ankara to unite efforts on the dispute complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over additional import duties imposed by Washington on Turkish steel and aluminum, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development told Sputnik on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Turkish Trade Ministry announced that it was planning to establish cooperation with other countries in WTO dispute consultations with the United States.
"Turkey has not so far contacted us with regard to the issue. Cooperation may be established under a standard procedure," the Russian ministry said.
There are a total of nine WTO members which initiated dispute consultations within the organization over the US metal tariffs, namely, Russia, Turkey, the European Union, China, India, Norway, Switzerland, Mexico, and Canada, the ministry noted.
"The claimants are currently holding consultations with the United States. When they reach the panel stage, they will be able to agree to actually consolidate their complaints in one case," it clarified.
US President Donald Trump initially introduced steep duties on metal imports in March and then in June, when he expanded the tariffs to the imports from the European Union, Canada, and Mexico, which were temporarily exempted from the duties. The step triggered outrage of US trade partners.
On August 10, Trump authorized the doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey, up to 50 and 20 percent, respectively, which prompted Ankara to file a complaint with the WTO.
