Canada has requested WTO dispute consultations with the United States regarding President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 25% tariff on cars and car parts from Canada, the World Trade Organization announced on Monday.
“The WTO Secretariat is closely monitoring and analysing the measures announced by the United States on April 2, 2025. Many members have reached out to us and we are actively engaging with them in response to their questions about the potential impact on their economies and the global trading system," - said Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, on 3rd April.
"I'm deeply concerned about this decline and the potential for escalation into a tariff war with a cycle of retaliatory measures that lead to further declines in trade," - she added.
While the situation is rapidly evolving, WTO's initial estimates suggest that these measures, coupled with those introduced since the beginning of the year, could lead to an overall contraction of around 1% in global merchandise trade volumes this year, representing a downward revision of nearly four percentage points from previous projections.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that the WTO was established to serve precisely in moments like this — as a platform for dialogue, to prevent trade conflicts from escalating, and to support an open and predictable trading environment. She encouraged Members to utilize this forum to engage constructively and seek cooperative solutions.
Canada claims the measures are inconsistent with U.S. obligations under various provisions under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994, added the WTO.
"The Government of Canada looks forward to receiving the Government of the United States' reply to this request and to determining a mutually convenient date and place for the consultations," - reads a document submitted to the WTO.
What is a request for consultations?
The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.
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