The UK Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) proposes a two-year extension to protect the country’s steel industry from import surges, Kallanish learns from an agency announcement on Friday.
The current measure, covering 15 steel categories, is set to expire on 30 June, but could be extended until 2026. However, another safeguard measure for these steel categories cannot be implemented for another eight years if extended. In this case, businesses could request new trade remedy measures from the TRA for specific categories of steel products if they believe that the UK industry was being harmed or was under threat from dumped or subsidised imports, in anticipation of the possible expiration of the safeguard measure.
The TRA’s extension review found that allowing the safeguard measure to expire could lead to increased imports and a recurrence of serious injury to UK producers across all 15 steel categories. Stakeholders had until 7 March to respond to the TRA’s initial findings. The secretary of state will review this recommendation before making a decision, as per WTO rules.
This extension review is separate from reviews on hot rolled flat and coil steel, initiated in response to market condition changes affecting category 1 steel supply.
The TRA initiated a suspension review and a tariff rate quota review in response to applications from Tata Steel UK (TSUK) and Kromat Trading on 9 February this year. The findings of these reviews will be published later.
Elina Virchenko UAE
