Russia seeks third-party status from WTO to join EU-US consultations on aluminium and steel

The Government of the Russian Federation announced on Tuesday, June 19, that it requested to join consultations between the European Union and the United States at the World Trade Organisation over the US imported metal tariffs. The request was submitted in an official letter, dated June 15, 2018.

The letter revealed that Moscow wanted to be included in the proceedings as a third party since the measures at issue are applied to the Russian aluminium and steel exports as well.

A statement in the letter reads, “The application by the United States of the challenged measures has significant detrimental effect on Russia's trade interests."

Should the Russian Federation receives third-party status, it will have the right to send representatives to attend the talks, listen, and present own viewpoint. A third party status, however, will not make Russia eligible to join the dispute-settlement case as a full-fledged member. In the case of the latter, the country will have to approach the WTO Dispute Settlement Body.

Prior to this, Russia had intimidated the World Trade Organisation about its possible retaliation act against the US’ decision of 25 per cent tariff on imported steel and 10 per cent on imported aluminium. It had also made an offer to the EU to jointly undertake measures for the protection of Russian and European business in connection with new tariffs.

On April 19, the Kremlin had sent a request to the WTO for consultations with the US on aluminium and steel tariffs, and warned that in case the country was not exempt from the tariffs would slap the US products with heavy retaliatory duties.