Consultations are the first step in the WTO dispute settlement process, and parties are encouraged to agree to a solution at this stage. Under WTO rules, if the matter is not resolved through consultations within 60 days, the US may request the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement panel. The Inter agency Trade Enforcement Centre (ITEC), created by this administration to enhance US trade enforcement capabilities, provided key support to USTR's monitoring and enforcement unit in the development and initiation of this dispute. India offers solar energy developers participating in the JNNSM a guarantee that the government will purchase a certain amount of solar power at a highly subsidized tariff rate, provided that they use domestically manufactured solar equipment instead of imports. The USTR alleges that these elements of India�s national solar policy appear to be inconsistent with India�s obligations under the WTO agreements. The United States has engaged India on our concerns regarding the JNNSM over the last three years, including in bilateral fora such as the US-India Trade Policy Forum and the US-India Energy Dialogue, and at the WTO in various committees.
