U.S. files WTO disputes against five members including China, Canada, and the EU

The U.S. filed five disputes at the World Trade Organization on Monday against trading partners over retaliatory tariffs.

China, the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and Turkey are all being accused of violating trade agreements with the U.S. after each responded to President Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum with trade barriers of their own.

“These tariffs appear to breach each WTO Member’s commitments under the WTO Agreement. The United States will take all necessary actions to protect our interests, and we urge our trading partners to work constructively with us on the problems created by massive and persistent excess capacity in the steel and aluminum sectors,” U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement.

Mr. Lighthizer defended Mr. Trump’s action to place original tariffs, arguing they are justified to protect the U.S. national security.

“The actions taken by the President are wholly legitimate and fully justified as a matter of U.S. law and international trade rules. Instead of working with us to address a common problem, some of our trading partners have elected to respond with retaliatory tariffs designed to punish American workers, farmers and companies,” he said.

In June, the European Union and Turkey’s tariffs went into effect. The EU is taxing 10 to 25 percent on $3.2 billion, while Turkey is imposing 40 to 70 percent on $1.8 billion.

In July, Canada and Mexico followed suit. Mexico’s two tiers, the first of which went into effect in June, tax 7 to 25 percent on $3.6 billion total.

Canada slapped its southern neighbor with 10 to 25 percent duties on $12.7 billion.

China announced a dispute of its own on Monday, aimed at the U.S. for proposing additional tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods.

Trade war talk between China and the U.S. have been ongoing since March 2018. In April, China imposed 15 to 25 percent on $3 billion.

The trade tensions between the two economic powers only worsened in June. By July 3, each country slapped the other with tariffs on $34 billion.

The U.S. also has an ongoing trade war with the EU that prompted some American companies, like Harley Davidson Inc., to move production overseas.

Lawmakers on both sides have been critical of Mr. Trump’s liberal use of tariffs. The Senate passed a nonbinding resolution Wednesday aimed at strengthening Congress’ role in creating tariffs in the name of national security.