New Delhi, Aug. 18 -- India has sought consultations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) with the United States over Washington's new safeguard measure on imports of quartz surface products, which could affect Indian exporters that have a significant presence in the US market.

The US imposed a four-year tariff-rate quota (TRQ) on quartz surface products from August 15 after the US International Trade Commission (USITC) concluded that rising imports were causing serious injury to the domestic industry. The measure covers quartz slabs and other fabricated quartz surface products.

Tariffs Under Safeguard Measure

Under the USITC recommendations, imports within the quota will attract a 25 per cent tariff in the first year, while shipments...