Russia joins EU and Turkey in tariff dispute

Russia joins a number of countries challenging the legality of import taxes on steel and aluminum imposed by the United States in April this year following a Section 232 investigation.

The country's Ministry of Economy asked the WTO to set up an arbitration commission to hold a number of official consultations on August 30. According to the Russian ministry, the consultations did not lead to a mutually beneficial way of resolving the dispute.

In addition to Russia, China, India, the European Union, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey are already contesting tariffs. If other countries join Russia, Turkey and the EU in asking the WTO to arbitrate on the issue, the United States will be forced to defend tariffs on multiple panels.

EU authorities have already requested the WTO and its dispute settlement body to institute proceedings on October 18, and Russia joined the movement on the same day. EU consultations were held in July but also failed to resolve the dispute. China, Turkey and Norway have also requested consultations.

The US reaction to the EU, India, and Turkey has been denying that the measures are classed as protecting national security, but adding that the country is still open to debate.

Meanwhile, Turkish steelworkers, seeing a glimmer of hope that their 50 percent tariffs will be slashed to the original 25 percent following the release of a U.S. pastor from prison in Turkey more than a month ago, are becoming less encouraging over time as the U.S. insist that tariffs are a matter of national security and not for market security.