South Korea quickly hits back at US tariffs for solar panels, invoking the WTO
Geneva — South Korea has hit back rapidly at US tariffs on washing machines and solar panels, filing challenges and demands for compensation at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The WTO published the South Korean complaints on Thursday, two days after US President Donald Trump signed the steep tariffs into law. He billed the move as a way to protect American jobs, but the solar industry said it would lead to thousands of lay-offs and raise consumer prices. The 30% tariff on solar panels was among the first unilateral trade restrictions imposed by the Trump administration as part of a broader protectionist agenda aimed at helping US manufacturers, but which has alarmed Asian trading partners that produce lower cost goods. South Korea challenged the US tariffs under the WTO’s Safeguard Agreement, leaving open the possibility of a full trade dispute later. The agreement gives the US 30 days to settle the matter, after which South Korea has a 60-day window to impose trade sanctions, i...
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