Russia considers response measures to new steel duties of USA

Russia has started considering reciprocal measures to the United States in imposing duties, Russian Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Yevtukhov has said. According to him, an instruction was given to assess what response can be taken, TASS reports.

Answering a question what time limits are given for preparing responsive measures, he said they are short. After that the negotiation process with the USA will be launched, then Russia will turn to the WTO, the deputy minister announced.

The issue whether to impose reciprocal measures or not must be considered separately, Yevtukhov added. At the same time, he said, if the decision is made, the measures must be significant.

He also supposed that the USA is using a certain strategy: to introduce duties against everyone and then start trying to mitigate it asking some privileges for it. Mitigation from the USA is in postponing introduce of duties for a number of countries: until May, the delay will be active for Canada, Mexica, EU countries, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, and South Korea.

As EADaily reported earlier, a decree signed by Donald Trump envisages introduction of a 25% duty for imports of steel and 10% for imports of aluminum. The industry and trade ministry assessed losses of Russian metallurgical companies on imposed duties for imports of steel and aluminum worth $3bn.

It stirred negative reaction in many countries. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Brigitte Zypries announced that the US would breach the WTO requirements by introducing the duties.

Most mill products manufacturers, including China, promised a trade war to the USA and reciprocal measures.

The Russian Industry and Trade Ministry promised that Russia would contest the US decision in the WTO, and it can be supported by China and South Korea.