WTO to set up panels to rule on U.S. tariff disputes

[November 21, 2018]  GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States and opponents of President Donald Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs both confirmed their wish to litigate on Wednesday, triggering the procedure for World Trade Organization dispute hearings, a Geneva trade official said.

U.S. President Donald Trump is after signing a proclamation to establish tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 8, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico, Norway, and Russia all confirmed they would escalate their disputes by starting adjudication proceedings, while the United States confirmed its wish for dispute panels against Canada, China and the EU.

Similar requests by Turkey against the United States and by the United States against Mexico are likely to be confirmed later on Wednesday. The WTO also agreed to a U.S. request for a dispute panel to rule on a U.S. intellectual property complaint against China.

(Reporting by Tom Miles; editing by John Stonestreet)

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