Russia joins bid to win compensation over US metals tariffs

Russia has joined the European Union, India and China in demanding compensation from the United States for its tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum.

The World Trade Organisation's web site posted today a filing from Russia that, like other countries, argues that the tariffs that took effect March 23 amount to a "safeguard" measure aimed to protect US domestic producers from surging imports.

The Trump administration has rejected those arguments and says the measures are for national security reasons.

However, Russia did not go so far as to appeal to the WTO's dispute settlement process over the tariffs.

Longtime US allies including Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Australia and the EU have won temporary exemption from application of the tariffs, pending talks with the United States.