Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to secure an exemption for UK steel exports from the EU steel safeguards.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
The Department for International Trade has already engaged closely with the European Commission to secure tariff-free quota allocations for some British steel exports into the European Union from 1st January 2021.
The United Kingdom has put in place some country-specific allocations within its overall tariff rate quotas for steel products subject to the steel safeguards, enabling EU companies to trade tariff-free into the United Kingdom. These tariff-free allocations came into operation on 1st January 2021 too.
Mutual provision of tariff-free quota allocations for steel exports for the United Kingdom’s and the European Commission’s respective Steel Safeguard measures will preserve traditional trade flows and provide as much continuity to industry as possible.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps her Department is taking to secure an exemption for UK steel exports from the US 232 tariffs.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government’s objective is to secure the swift removal of unjustified measures on exports of steel and aluminium and has already raised this with the new US administration. We want to de-escalate the conflict and come to a negotiated settlement so we can deepen our trading relationship with the US.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what representations she has received on the importance of trade remedies to steel producing communities in the UK.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Government recognises the important role trade remedies can play in protecting British businesses from import surges and unfair trading practices. We maintained steel safeguard measures on 19 steel product categories to ensure continued protection for British producers after the end of the transition period. Officials have regular discussions with interested parties on a wide range of important issues for the steel industry.
The Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) initiated a review of the current safeguard measures on certain steel products on 1st October 2020. This review is ongoing and domestic producers, importers and other interested parties are encouraged to provide evidence to the review. TRID will consider the impact on the United Kingdom’s steel industry of continuing, varying, or terminating the current British steel safeguard measures.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the role of the trade remedies in protecting UK foundation interests from import surges.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Government recognises the important role trade remedies can play in protecting British businesses from import surges and unfair trading practices. We maintained steel safeguard measures on 19 steel product categories to ensure continued protection for British producers after the end of the transition period. Officials have regular discussions with interested parties on a wide range of important issues for the steel industry.
The Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) initiated a review of the current safeguard measures on certain steel products on 1st October 2020. This review is ongoing and domestic producers, importers and other interested parties are encouraged to provide evidence to the review. TRID will consider the impact on the United Kingdom’s steel industry of continuing, varying, or terminating the current British steel safeguard measures.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the need to extend the UK steel safeguards beyond the expiry date of June 2021.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Government recognises the important role trade remedies can play in protecting British businesses from import surges and unfair trading practices. We maintained steel safeguard measures on 19 steel product categories to ensure continued protection for British producers after the end of the transition period. Officials have regular discussions with interested parties on a wide range of important issues for the steel industry.
The Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) initiated a review of the current safeguard measures on certain steel products on 1st October 2020. This review is ongoing and domestic producers, importers and other interested parties are encouraged to provide evidence to the review. TRID will consider the impact on the United Kingdom’s steel industry of continuing, varying, or terminating the current British steel safeguard measures.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment her Department has made of how to provide a level trading field for UK steel producers while the EU and US maintain import controls on steel goods.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Government recognises the important role trade remedies can play in protecting British businesses from import surges and unfair trading practices. We maintained steel safeguard measures on 19 steel product categories to ensure continued protection for British producers after the end of the transition period. Officials have regular discussions with interested parties on a wide range of important issues for the steel industry.
The Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) initiated a review of the current safeguard measures on certain steel products on 1st October 2020. This review is ongoing and domestic producers, importers and other interested parties are encouraged to provide evidence to the review. TRID will consider the impact on the United Kingdom’s steel industry of continuing, varying, or terminating the current British steel safeguard measures.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to secure an exemption for UK steel exports from the US 232 tariffs.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government’s objective is to secure the swift removal of unjustified measures on exports of steel and aluminium. The Government has rolled over EU rebalancing tariffs in response to the ‘Section 232’ measures, and will launch a consultation to ensure these tariffs are shaped to UK interests and tailored to the UK economy. We want to de-escalate the conflict and come to a negotiated settlement so we can deepen our trading relationship with the US.