India, Chinese Taipei request WTO to delay ruling on ICT import duties dispute

India and Chinese Taipei have jointly requested World Tre Organization's (WTO) dispute settlement body (DSB) to withhold any ruling regarding New Delhi's import duties on specific information and technology products until July 26. move comes as both parties engage in ongoing efforts to resolve matter, according to an official statement.

request was me during a meeting of dispute settlement body in Geneva on April 26, where representatives from both countries urged DSB to postpone consideration of a dispute panel's reports until July 26, 2024. delay aims to facilitate resolution of disputes, with DSB agreeing to request, as confirmed by a Geneva-based official.

This isn't first time such a request has been me. Previously, DSB h acceded to three previous requests from India and Chinese Taipei to delay consideration of reports.

dispute originated from a case filed by European Union, Japan, and Taiwan against import duties imposed by India on certain information and technology products. WTO's dispute panel ruled on April 17, 2023, stating that se duties violated global tring norms.

Chinese Taipei h filed a separate case against India in WTO in May 2019, specifically challenging import duties imposed on certain electronic goods, including telephones for cellular networks and machines for reception, conversion, and transmission of data.

India's stance revolves around its classification of se products under WTO's Information Technology Agreement (ITA-1), which it signed in 1997. India argues that as it is not part of ITA-2 agreement, it is not obligated to eliminate customs duties on se products.

WTO, as a 164-member multilateral body, is responsible for judicating tre disputes among member countries. However, functioning of its appellate body, which handles challenges to panel rulings, has been hindered by differences among member countries regarding appointment of its members. United States has notably been blocking appointment process, resulting in a backlog of pending disputes.

Despite challenges in appellate body's functioning, member countries retain option to file cases in WTO if y believe that a particular tre measure violates WTO norms.

(With PTI inputs)