MOSCOW, July 6. /TASS/. Russia sent a request to WTO for formal consultations on its dispute in the US in respect of import duties on steel and aluminum, the Ministry of Economic Development said on Friday.

"The request for formal consultations was sent to June 29, 2018. If no mutually acceptable ways are found in the course of consultations, then Russia will apply to WTO with a request to set up an arbitration panel and pass the dispute for its consideration," the ministry said.

Russia approached the World Trade Organization (WTO) with a request to hold consultations with the United States concerning steel and aluminum duties imposed by Washington, the WTO press service reported on Monday.

The Russian Federation has requested WTO dispute consultations with the United States regarding US duties on certain imported steel and aluminum products. The request was circulated to WTO members on July 2, the press service said.

Russia claims the US duties of 25% and 10% on imports of steel and aluminum products respectively are inconsistent with provisions of the WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and the Agreement on Safeguards, the WTO press service reports. This is the seventh complaint initiated by WTO members against US duties on steel and aluminum. China, India, the European Union, Canada, Mexico and Norway filed similar complaints to WTO earlier.

Consultations provide an opportunity to discuss the matter and find a solution without further proceedings. However, if they are unsuccessful, the complaining party will have a right to request establishment of a panel of arbitrators after 60 days, WTO says.

The United States introduced higher import duties on steel and aluminum products on March 23 of this year.