India proposes retaliatory tariffs against the United States over auto tariffs at the WTO

India on Friday proposed to impose retaliatory tariffs under World Trade Organization (WTO) norms on tariffs imposed by the United States on the automotive industry in the name of safeguard measures. "The proposed suspension of concessions or other obligations will increase tariffs on specific products originating in the United States," said a WTO notice circulated at India's request. India has notified the WTO Council on Trade in Goods of its proposed suspension of concessions and other obligations under certain WTO provisions. "This notice is in response to the extension of safeguard measures by the United States on imports of auto parts from India," the statement said. On March 26 this year, the United States took safeguard measures to impose an additional 25% ad valorem tariff on imports of passenger cars, light trucks and some auto parts from India. The United States did not notify the WTO of these measures, but they are essentially safeguard measures. India insists that the measures taken by the United States are inconsistent with the 1994 General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs and the Safeguards Agreement.