Thailand has requested WTO dispute consultations with Turkey concerning an additional duty imposed by Turkey on imported air conditioners from Thailand. Thailand’s request was circulated to WTO members on 10 December.

The additional duty was imposed by Turkey as a suspension of concessions under Article 8.2 of the WTO’s Safeguards Agreement in response to the safeguard measure imposed by Thailand on imports of non-alloy hot-rolled steel flat products. Thailand claims the Turkish measure is inconsistent with certain provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and the Safeguards Agreement.

Further information is available in document WT/DS573/1

What is a request for consultations?

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.

Source: wto.org