The world trade organization(WTO) has agreed to set up a panel of experts to review U.S. steel and aluminum tariff measures

Geneva, November 21 (Reuters) : 21 of the world trade organization dispute settlement body meeting, agree with China, eu, Canada, Mexico, Norway, Russia and Turkey seven members of the wto requirements, set up the panel to review the us steel tariffs measures announced in March, to confirm whether the measures violate wto rules.

US President Donald trump announced on March 8 that the us would impose tariffs of 25 per cent on imports of steel and 10 per cent on imports of aluminium because they threaten "national security". The trump administration's tariffs on steel and aluminium products from most economies came into effect on March 23, while those on steel and aluminium products from the European Union, Canada and Mexico came into effect on June 1.

At a meeting of the wto's dispute settlement body on October 29, the seven members argued that the us steel and aluminium tariff measures were essentially safeguards and called for a panel to examine whether the measures violated wto rules. At the meeting on the 21st, they made the application again, and reiterated that the tariff measures taken by the United States on the basis of the so-called "national security" are safeguard measures in terms of content and substance, and the purpose is to protect the American steel and aluminum industry from the impact of imports.

The Chinese representative said that the overwhelming majority of wto members believe that the us steel and aluminium tariff measures do not conform to the core principles of relevant wto agreements. China believes that this practice has had a serious systemic impact on the wto.

The Canadian representative stressed that it was "inconceivable" that Canadian exports of steel and aluminum to the United States posed a threat to U.S. national security, and that members should be very cautious in invoking the wto's national security exceptions.

The Norwegian representative said that if accepted, the us rhetoric about endangering "national security" would make virtually all wto rules unenforceable.

According to wto rules, members may file a request for consultation with the wto dispute settlement body after a trade dispute occurs. If the members concerned fail to reach an agreement during the consultation period, the members may request the establishment of an expert group to adjudicate the dispute.