The World Trade Organization is expected to set up a dispute-settlement panel later this month to handle wrangling between Japan and the United States over antidumping tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Japanese surface-treated steel imports, trade sources said Wednesday.
The panel, which will exercise adjudicating power, will examine Japan's claim that the U.S. is keeping antidumping tariffs in place beyond WTO-mandated guidelines without justification.
Japan says the U.S. decision, issued in November 2000, to maintain antidumping tariffs on surface-treated steel sheets, used primarily in car bodies, for more than five years violates the sunset provisions in WTO antidumping rules.
Trade sources said the Japanese government has decided to call for a dispute panel at a meeting of the WTO dispute settlement body scheduled for May 22.