INDIA AGAIN BLOCKS WTO INVESTIGATION

The AP reports that India has blocked a World Trade Organization (WTO) investigation of its exorbitant import duties on American wine and spirits after the U.S. complained of discrimination last month. Depending on the Indian state, tariffs can reach as high as 550%, while the U.S., EU and Japan allow nearly all spirits to enter their markets duty-free.

Under WTO rules, a second request for a formal investigation is automatically approved, so a second investigative panel for the U.S. will likely be established later this month.

The WTO is currently reviewing an EU challenge of the same nature, which India also blocked the first time around.