Safeguards

On August 24, 2018, the United States requested the Chair of the DSB to circulate to Members a communication where it indicated that the United States was willing to enter into consultations with China, without prejudice to the US view that China's letter of August 14, 2018 did not satisfy the requirements of Article 4 of the DSU.

On December 5, 2018, Thailand requested consultations with Turkey concerning the additional duty imposed by Turkey on imports of air conditioning machines from Thailand.

Thailand claimed that the measures appear to be inconsistent with:
•    Articles 8.2 and 12.3 of the Agreement on Safeguards; and
•    Articles I:1, II:1(a), II:1(b), XIX:2 and XIX:3 of the GATT 1994.   

On February 14, 2019, Thailand requested the establishment of a panel. At its meeting on February 25, 2019, the DSB deferred the establishment of the panel.

On May 14, 2018, Korea requested consultations with the United States concerning definitive safeguard measures imposed by the United States on imports of large residential washers. 

Korea claimed that the measures appear to be inconsistent with: 

On August 15, 2018, Turkey requested consultations with the United States concerning certain duties that the United States imposed on imports of steel and aluminum products.

Turkey claimed in its request for consultations that the measures appear to be inconsistent with:

• Articles 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7, 8.1, 9.1, 11.1(a) and (b), 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of the Safeguards Agreement;

• Articles I:1, II:1(a) and (b), X:3(a), XI:1, XIII:1, XIX:1(a), and XIX:2 of the GATT 1994; and

• Article XVI:4 of the WTO Agreement.

On July 9, 2018, Switzerland requested consultations with the United States concerning certain duties that the United States imposed on imports of steel and aluminum products.

Switzerland claimed in its request for consultations that the measures appear to be inconsistent with:

• Articles 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7, 11.1(a), 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of the Safeguards Agreement;

• Articles I:1, II:1(a) and (b), X:3(a), XI:1, XIX:1(a), and XIX:2 of the GATT 1994; and

• Article XVI:4 of the WTO Agreement.

On June 29, 2018, Russia requested consultations with the United States concerning certain duties that the United States imposed on imports of steel and aluminum products.

Russia claimed in its request for consultations that the measures appear to be inconsistent with:

• Articles 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7, 8.1, 11.1(a) and (b), 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of the Safeguards Agreement; and

• Articles I:1, II:1(a) and (b), X:3(a), XI:1, XIX:1(a), and XIX:2 of the GATT 1994.

On June 12, 2018, Norway requested consultations with the United States concerning certain duties that the United States imposed on imports of steel and aluminum products.

Norway claimed in its request for consultations that the measures appear to be inconsistent with:

• Articles 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7, 11.1(a) and (b), 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of the Safeguards Agreement;

• Articles I:1, II:1(a) and (b), X:3(a), XI:1, XIX:1(a), and XIX:2 of the GATT 1994; and

• Article XVI:4 of the WTO Agreement.

On May 18, 2018, India requested consultations with the United States concerning certain duties that the United States imposed on imports of steel and aluminum products.

India claimed in its request for consultations that the measures appear to be inconsistent with:

• Articles 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7, 9.1, 11.1(a) and (b), 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of the Safeguards Agreement; and

• Articles I:1, II:1(a) and (b), X:3(a), XI:1, XIX:1(a), and XIX:2 of the GATT 1994.

On June 1, 2018, the EU requested consultations with the United States concerning certain duties that the United States imposed on imports of steel and aluminum products.

The EU claimed in its request for consultations that the measures appear to be inconsistent with:

• Articles 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7, 9, 11.1(a), 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of the Safeguards Agreement;

• Articles I:1, II:1(a) and (b), X:3(a), XI:1, XIX:1(a), and XIX:2 of the GATT 1994; and

• Article XVI:4 of the WTO Agreement.

On April 5, 2018, China requested consultations with the United States concerning certain duties that the United States imposed on imports of steel and aluminum products.

China claimed in its request for consultations that the measures appear to be inconsistent with:

• Articles 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7, 11.1(a), 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3 of the Safeguards Agreement; and

• Articles I:1, II:1(a) and (b), X:3(a), XIX:1(a), and XIX:2 of the GATT 1994.