Brazil initiates WTO dispute regarding US tariff measures

Brazil has requested the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute consultations with the United States concerning US tariff measures, which it says impose a 10% duty on all Brazilian products and an additional 40% duty on certain products of Brazilian origin, Report informs, referring to the WTO’s website.

The request was circulated to WTO members on August 11.

Brazil claims the measures are inconsistent with the United States' obligations under various provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) by seeking redress through tariff measures, rather than with recourse to the rules and procedures of the DSU.

The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.