New Delhi (Sputnik) — “On 9 September, India requested consultations with the United States under the dispute settlement system regarding alleged domestic content requirements and subsidies provided by eight US states (Washington, California, Montana, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Michigan, Delaware and Minnesota) in the renewable energy sector,” read a statement issued by the World Trade Organization on Monday.
Sputnik contacted India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry, which confirmed the development. India considers these US domestic content requirements to be inconsistent with WTO norms, as they mandate the use of domestic suppliers in the purchase of power equipment. Apart from domestic content norms, states are also providing subsidies to companies which make imported items that would normally be costlier than those produced by domestic manufacturers.
Now the US will have to settle the dispute within 60 days, after which India can ask the WTO to adjudicate the matter.
In the beginning of this year, India lost a WTO case the US filed in response to India’s ambitious solar energy program.
