India seeks WTO consultations with US over copper tariffs
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India has requested consultations with the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO) after Washington imposed a 50% tariff on copper imports.
According to a WTO circular, New Delhi argued that the duties amount to a safeguard measure and should have been notified under global trade rules.
According to the circular, India viewed the measure—though presented as one taken for security reasons—as essentially a safeguard measure. It stated that the United States had not notified the WTO Committee on Safeguards about its decision to implement it. As a member with major export interests in the affected products, India therefore requested consultations.
India has also said it looks forward to a prompt reply from Washington and hopes to agree on a convenient date and venue for the consultations.
The move marks another trade dispute between the two countries. The US recently raised duties across several categories, including engineering goods and textiles.
This is not the first time India has approached the WTO over unilateral American tariffs. Earlier, New Delhi sought consultations on US duties on steel, aluminium, and derivative products. But the US rejected those requests, maintaining that the measures were based on national security concerns.
On August 5, the Indian government confirmed in Parliament that Washington has continued to resist engaging in these disputes. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada stated that the US had justified the measures on national security grounds.
