India To Hit Back At US With Tariffs Worth $240 Million From 4 August

India is set to retaliate against the imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports by the United States by imposing tariff against 30 US products worth $240 million on 4 August, Mint has said in a report.

The Trump administration had in March this year imposed 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent tariff on imported aluminum.

Although India could have imposed tariffs immediately, it has given some time to the US in view of the upcoming meeting between the trade representatives of the two countries and discussions on a “trade package” with the US. Assistant US trade representative Mark Linscott is likely to visit India in the last week of June.

The 30 items on which India intends to impose tariffs, a list of which was notified to the World Trade Organisation, include almonds, apples, phosphoric acid and motorcycles with engine capacity more than 800 cc (including Harley-Davidson).

Before deciding to impose retaliatory tariffs, India had asked the Trump administration to exempt it from its steel and aluminum tariffs on grounds of national security. The US, however, had rejected India’s request. New Delhi also took Washington to the dispute settlement mechanism in the WTO over the issue.