Mubasher: India raised duties on a slew of US farm and metal products, joining the European Union (EU), Mexico, and China in retaliatory response to Washington’s tariff hikes on steel and aluminium imports.

In a government notice of tariff rates issued on late Wednesday, the Indian commerce ministry identified a range of products, including apples, almonds, walnuts and artemia to be subject to higher import taxes, most of which are incoming from the US. Moreover, India also increased duties on grades of iron and steel products.

Some of the newly raised tariff rates would be enacted immediately, while others would take effect as of 4 August, an official from the Indian steel ministry told Reuters.

The move, which came a day after the EU’s decision to impose higher duties on a range of US products, was intended as an expression of disapproval of the US action, the official added.

In the same vein, Asia's third-largest economy initiated proceedings at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the 25% and 10% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports announced by the US, after failing to receive an exemption, while it submitted a list of products that could be subject to higher duties.

On a side note, China, the world's second-largest economy, on Thursday stated that the interests of US workers and farmers would be hurt, if Washington imposed higher tariffs on some imports.