UK Steel Industry

Adrian Bailey Excerpts

Monday 29th February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Sajid Javid]

I thank my hon. Friend for reminding us of that. As I progress, I will answer his question.

[Mr Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West) (Lab/Co-op)]

Will the Minister put on the record whether he supports the lifting of the lesser duty rule?

[Sajid Javid]

No, I do not, because, as I have said, the lesser duty rule is there to create a level trading field. As I have also said, under the existing rule, tariffs can be higher, and in many cases should be higher. However, they were not set too low because of the lesser duty rule. The problem was the time period used by the Commission in its calculation.