WT/DS548/13  
 
6 July 2018  
(18-4254) Page: 1/1 
  Original: English  
 
UNITED STATES – CERTAIN MEASURES ON STEEL AND ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNITED STATES  
The following communication, dated 11 June 2018 , was received from the delegation of the United 
States with the request that it be circulated to the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB).  
 
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On 1 June 2018, the United States received the EU 's letter of the same date requesting 
consultations pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the 
Settlement of Disputes ("DSU"), Article XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994  
("GATT 1994 "), and Article 14 of the Agreement on Safeguards . 
 
The EU 's request concerns tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum articles imposed by the 
President of the United States pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 
("Section 232 "). The President determined that tariffs were necessary to adjust th e imports of 
steel and aluminum articles that threaten to impair the national security of the United States.  
Issues of national security are political matters not susceptible to review or capable of resolution 
by WTO dispute settlement. Every Member of the  WTO retains the authority to determine for itself 
those matters that it considers necessary to the protection of its essential security interests, as is 
reflected in the text of  Article XXI of the GATT 1994.  
The EU 's request purports to be pursuant to Art icle 14 of the Agreement on Safeguards . However, 
the tariffs imposed pursuant to Section 232 are not safeguard measures but rather tariffs 
on imports of steel and aluminum articles that threaten to impair the national security of the 
United States. The Uni ted States did not take action pursuant Section 201 of the Trade Act of 
1974, which is the law under which the United States imposes safeguard measures. Therefore, 
there is no basis to consult pursuant to the Agreement on Safeguards  with respect to tariffs  
imposed under Section 232.  
 
Without prejudice to the U.S. view that the tariffs imposed pursuant to Section 232 are issues 
of national security not susceptible to review or capable of resolution by WTO dispute settlement,  
and that the consultations provis ion in the Agreement on Safeguards  is not applicable, 
the United  States accepts the request of the EU to enter into consultations.  
 
The United States has taken note of the EU 's notification of 18 May 2018, in which the EU stated 
its intent to suspend conce ssions and other obligations, purportedly under Article 8.2 of the 
Agreement on Safeguards.  Because the tariffs imposed pursuant to Section 232 are not safeguard 
measures, the United States considers that Article 8.2 of the Agreement on Safeguards does not  
justify the EU 's suspension of concessions or other obligations. The EU has asserted no other 
justification for its measures, and the United States is aware of none. Therefore, it appears that 
the EU 's actions have no basis under WTO rules.  
 
We stand read y to confer with officials from your mission on a mutually convenient date for these 
consultations.  
 
 
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