JOC Staff | Feb 11, 2013 4:18PM EST
The U.S. has requested World Trade Organization dispute settlement consultations with India’s government regarding domestic-content requirements in India’s national solar program, according to Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative.
India’s program allegedly discriminates against U.S. solar equipment by requiring solar energy producers to use Indian-manufactured solar cells and modules and by offering subsidies to developers for using domestic equipment instead of imports, restricting access to India’s market for U.S. imports.
Consultations are the first step in the WTO dispute settlement process, and parties are encouraged to reach agreement at this stage. Under WTO rules, if the matter is not resolved through consultations within 60 days, the U.S. may request the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement panel.
