Japan Requests Consultations With India Over Tariff Dispute

Japan has requested World Trade Organization consultations with India, accusing it of imposing tariffs “inconsistent” with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and “in excess” of its WTO commitments, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Industry and Trade said in a May 10 notice. Japan said India raised tariffs on various products, including information and communications technology products, nine times since 2014, calling them violations of the WTO and GATT. Japan said it has “repeatedly” asked India to withdraw the tariffs during trade talks and WTO committees, but “the two sides have been unable to settle the dispute.” Japan specifically mentioned tariffs on six products that it disputes: “feature phones,” smartphones, “base stations” for cell phones, “digital microwave communication equipment,” “printed-circuit board assemblies” and LCD modules for smartphones.