Russia joins European Union, India and China in bid to win compensation over U.S. metals tariffs

Associated Press

Show Caption Hide Caption What does a trade war look like? We explain The last time a trade war happened in the U.S., things didn't go well for the economy. Will history repeat itself as Trump puts a tariff on steel and aluminum? Here are the facts.

GENEVA – Russia has joined the European Union, India and China in demanding compensation from the United States for its tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum.

The World Trade Organization’s web site posted Thursday a filing from Russia that, like other countries, argues that the tariffs that took effect March 23 amount to a “safeguard” measure aimed to protect U.S. domestic producers from surging imports.

The Trump administration has rejected those arguments and says the measures are for national security reasons.

However, Russia did not go so far as to appeal to the WTO’s dispute settlement process over the tariffs.

Longtime U.S. allies including Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Australia and the EU have won temporary exemption from application of the tariffs, pending talks with the United States.