India, June 2 -- The US has rejected India's May 9 notice at the World Trade Organization that proposed retaliatory action against Washington imposing steep import tariffs on steel and aluminium and said its actions were not safeguard measures, which is why it would not hold any discussion with New Delhi on the matter, people in the know said on Sunday.

Under the current circumstances, India may retaliate by proportionately suspending concessions given to American imports (for example almonds and walnuts) and levy higher customs duties on metals coming from the US, said the people cited above, requesting anonymity. The Indian notice was against the US's February 10 decision to impose 25% levies on all imports of steel and aluminium effec...