The United States (US) has filed a WTO dispute case (DS456)
under the Dispute Settlement Mechanism, aggrieved by the Domestic Content
Requirement Condition on procurement of solar cells and modules under Batch I
and Batch II of Phase I and Batch I of Phase II of the Jawaharlal Nehru
National Solar Mission (JNNSM) Program, being administered by the Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). On the request of the US, Panel has been
established by the Dispute Settlement Body and the process of composition of
the Panel is under progress by the WTO Secretariat in consultation with both
the parties to the Dispute.
In the meantime, the Government of India is preparing its
arguments and defence in consultation with the legal experts as well as the
stakeholders concerned.
Amongst others, two important issues between the Governments
of the US and India are related to two other WTO Disputes. These are:
(i)
WTO Dispute DS430 related to India’s measures banning import of
agricultural products, in particular, the poultry and poultry products from a
country infected with the Avian Influenza viral strains.
(ii)
WTO Dispute DS436 related to Countervailing Duty (CVD) imposed by the US
on certain hot rolled carbon steel flat products originating from India.
The
information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the
Ministry of Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply
in Rajya Sabha today.
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