India, EU agree to resolve dispute related to ICT import duties; urge WTO to not adopt ruling till Sept 19

New Delhi, June 6 (KNN) India and the European Union (EU) on Monday asked the dispute settlement body of World Trade Organisation (WTO) to not adopt a ruling against New Delhi’s import duties on certain information and communication technology (ICT) products till September 19.

Both the sides have expressed agreement to engage in bilateral talks to resolve the matter, reported ET.

India and the EU have called for a special meeting of the WTO's dispute settlement body (DSB) on June 15, as per a communication to the WTO.

They urged the DSB not to adopt the WTO's dispute settlement panel's ruling of April 17.

The ruling stated that India's import duties on certain information and technology products are inconsistent with the global trade norms.

“We consider that the draft DSB decision (as provided by India and the EU) if adopted, would facilitate the resolution of the dispute,” the communication said.

As per the rules of the WTO, the panel's ruling will have to be adopted by the DSB for implementation within 60 days of the release of the order.

According to the draft decision submitted by the two regions for the body, “The DSB agrees that, upon a request by the European Union or India, the DSB shall no later than 19 September 2023 adopt the report of the Panel in the dispute India - Tariff Treatment on Certain Goods in the Information and Communications Technology Sector of 17 April 2023.”  (KNN Bureau)