Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, for what reasons the Government voted against the proposed Modernisation of Trade Defence Instruments in the EU Council on 16 April 2018.

The Government voted against the EU Modernisation of Trade Defence Instruments due to the proposed restrictions to the Lesser Duty Rule. The Lesser Duty Rule provides producers with robust and proportionate protections they need against unfair trade from dumped and subsidised imports, but without imposing punitive measures that could harm downstream users or consumers.

Our view is that the Lesser Duty Rule helps to balance the interests of all and that limiting it will mean increased costs, with no evidence of benefits.