(image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) that it has asked the United States for consultations over the latter’s imposition of a safeguard measure on imported large residential washers, Seoul’s trade ministry said Thursday.
A document, posted on the WTO’s website, showed that Seoul made the request as it considers the safeguard measure to be “inconsistent” with U.S. obligations under the relevant provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and the Agreement on Safeguards.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a set of safeguard measures against imported large residential washing machines and solar cells, including those from South Korea.
On Wednesday, the trade ministry here said it had proposed a bilateral meeting with the U.S. Trade Representatives as early as next week to discuss the safeguard actions.
Under the safeguard measure, a 20 percent tariff will apply on the first 1.2 million imported washers in the first year and a 50 percent tariff on machines beyond that number. A 30 percent tariff will be imposed on imported solar cells and modules above 2.5 gigawatts in the first year.
(Yonhap)
