India seeks WTO consultations with US over 50% tariff quota on quartz surface imports

India has requested WTO consultations with the US concerning Washington's tariff-rate quota on quartz surface imports, implemented on August 15 for a four-year period. India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry informed the WTO on August 14 that it has a significant interest in these talks, proposing a virtual format. In FY26, India exported approximately $380 million worth of such products to the US.

The US had designated India, Vietnam, Spain, and Thailand as leading exporters of these goods. India seeks to schedule these consultations virtually, as per mutual convenience, under the WTO agreement on safeguards. This marks the fourth instance where India has sought such consultations with Washington, following disputes over steel, aluminum, automobiles, and auto components, along with copper imports.

WTO rules prohibit safeguard measures against developing countries where a single nation contributes less than 3% of total subject imports, provided collective imports from those low-import-share developing nations do not surpass 9%. The move follows the US imposing a 10% tariff on India under a Section 301 probe for alleged forced labor, and the US is also drafting legislation to impose tariffs of up to 100% on India in conjunction with five countries importing Russian oil and gas.

Both nations are currently negotiating a trade agreement. Earlier this week, the US included India among 40 other countries in a shadow trans-shipment network allegedly facilitating Chinese goods to circumvent US tariffs, and announced plans to utilize AI to detect and address such shipments.