Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human-Machine Interface
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Conflict NMAC; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew FLC Overrode Automation; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Weather; Aircraft
While deviating around a line of thunderstorms in IMC conditions; the First Officer and I both heard ATC query a flight to; essentially; increase rate of climb to FL330. We just finished leveling off at FL320. The other aircraft said it would be hard because they bled speed off for some reason I don't recall.The First Officer and I both started scanning the TCAS for the traffic and at that moment we saw the traffic's icon turn yellow indicating an altitude of FL323 and the icon was converging on our path from the right. We then received a climb RA command and I began a commanded RA climb of 700 feet per minute and it dawned on me that is was foolish to climb as the aircraft was 300 feet above me.  I started an immediate descent and went down to FL317. The RA resolved and I returned to FL320. We reported the RA response and the other aircraft reported their RA response.
[Report Narrative Contained No Additional Information.]
An air carrier flight crew was issued an RA climb command while in cruise at FL320 that would have climbed them into their traffic which was 300 feet above them. They began to comply but then descended instead to remain clear of traffic.