The panel in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute resolution processes in which Switzerland contested the restrictions put in place by the US on aluminium and steel since 2018 released its final report on December 9, 2022. The tribunal favoured Switzerland after concluding that the US regulations are against the GATT.

The panel listened to Switzerland's legal defence. In its findings, the board concluded that the US measures had violated multiple GATT rules and were not justified by the security exemption outlined in the agreement.

Invoking national security concerns, the United States (US) imposed extra taxes of 10 per cent on certain imports of aluminium products and 25 per cent on certain imports of steel products from March 23 2018. Switzerland started WTO dispute settlement procedures in 2018 with eight other WTO Members. The COVID-19 epidemic caused a delay in the proceedings, which have already gone on for more than four years.

The right of WTO Members to take actions to safeguard their security interests is not questioned by this study. It indicates that Members have a lot of latitude in this area as long as they adhere to a set of minimal standards, whose observance may be verified by a WTO panel.