NEW DELHI: A week after it threatened India with reciprocal taxes, the US has challenged practically almost the entire of India’s export programmes. It has filed a complaint at the WTO about India’s export subsidy programmes claiming them to harm American workers.These programmes are the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme; Export Oriented Units Scheme and sector specific schemes, including Electronics Hardware Technology Parks Scheme; Special Economic Zones; Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme; and a duty free imports for exporters programme.“These export subsidy programmes harm American workers by creating an uneven playing field on which they must compete,” said United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, pegging these subsidies at $7 billion.As per the US administration, these “apparent export subsidies provide financial benefits to Indian exporters that allow them to sell their goods more cheaply to the detriment of American workers and manufacturers.”The US has sought consultations on the mater in the WTO. Consultations are the first step in the WTO dispute settlement process. If the two are not able to reach a mutually agreed solution through consultations, the US may request the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement panel to review the matter.The USTR alleged that despite the expiry of India’s exemption under the WTO’s special and differential provisions for developing countries in 2015, New Delhi has increased the size and scope of these programmes.It said India introduced the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme in 2015, which has rapidly expanded to include more than 8,000 eligible products, nearly double the number of products covered at its inception.Exports from SEZs increased over 6,000% from 2000 to 2017, and in 2016, exports from these zones accounted for over $82 billion in exports, or 30% of India’s export volume. Exports from the Export Oriented Units Scheme and sector specific schemes, including Electronics Hardware Technology Parks Scheme, increased by over 160% from 2000 to 2016, according to Washington.