On 20 December Japan notified the WTO Secretariat that it had requested dispute consultations with India in the dispute “India – Certain Measures on Imports of Iron and Steel Products”.
The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO.
Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation.
After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.