Norway Invites Request for Consultation on U.S. Steel and Aluminum Tariffs at WTO

    The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statementon the 12th saying that Norway had filed a consultation request on the same daywith the World Trade Organization on the United States' levying high tariffs onimported steel and aluminum products.

    Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ina Serede said in astatement that Norway believes that the United States imposes additionaltariffs on imports of steel and aluminum products in violation of WTO rules.For small, open countries such as Norway, compliance with international traderules is crucial. If someone violates the rules, it will affect both individualand international economies.

    The request for consultation was the first link in the WTOdispute settlement mechanism. If the consultations do not bear fruit, Norwaymay call the WTO to set up an expert group to review the case.

    In March, the United States announced that it would impose tariffs of 25% and 10% on imports of steel and aluminum products, respectively, as imports of steel and aluminum products endanger the United States' "national security." After the tariff measures came into effect, the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and India have already resorted to the US move to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.