THE World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled against the United States and recommended they bring their high tariffs imposed on South Korean steel and transformers in line with global trading rules.

In a decision on January 21, the global body ruled in favour of Korea on 37 of the 40 disputes regarding eight anti-dumping and countervailing measures imposed by Washington on the import of steel products and large power transformers since 2016.

Seoul approached the WTO in February 2018, requesting consultation with the U.S. as they had been imposing tariffs of 9.49 per cent to 59.72 per cent on certain corrosion-resistant steel products, and cold- and hot-rolled steel flat products, while the anti-dumping tariff on transformers reached 60.81 per cent.

The Korean government tried negotiating with the US to remove the tariffs imposed using the "adverse facts available" (AFA) provision which allow for high anti-dumping and countervailing tariffs if the accused organisation fails to provide data demanded by authorities.

The WTO decision is Korea's first win in three years which came just a day after new U.S. President Mr Joe Biden took office.