United States – Certain Measures on Steel and Aluminium Products

Request to Join Consultations

Communication from Canada

The following communication, dated 30 August 2018, from the delegation of Canada to the delegation of the United States, and the delegation of Turkey, is circulated to the Dispute Settlement Body in accordance with Article 4.11 of the DSU.

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Pursuant to Article 4.11 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), the Government of Canada hereby notifies its request to join the consultations requested by Turkey pursuant to Articles 1 and 4 of the DSU, Article XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and Article 14 of the Agreement on Safeguards with respect to the United States' measures that impose additional import duties on certain steel and aluminum products. The request of Turkey, which was circulated to Members on 20 August 2018, is set out in document WT/DS564/1, G/L/1259, G/SG/D61/1.

Canada is the largest exporter of steel and aluminum products to the United States.  In 2017, Canada exported $7.2 billion of steel products and $9.4 billion of aluminum products to the United States. Therefore, Canada has a substantial trade interest in these consultations. In particular, the measures at issue in this dispute will significantly impact Canada's exporters of steel and aluminum by hindering their ability to access their largest export market. Canada filed its own request for consultations with the United States with regard to these additional import duties on 1 June 2018 (WT/DS550/1, G/L/1245, G/SG/D55/1).

Based on the foregoing, Canada respectfully requests that it be permitted to join the consultations in this dispute.

A copy of this letter is being sent to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, with a request that it be circulated to Members.

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