Asked by: Holly Mumby-Croft (Conservative - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will provide an update on the negotiations with the US Administration on the removal of S232 tariffs on UK steel and aluminium.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Following two months of intensive discussions, the UK secured an expansive removal of Section 232 tariffs on UK steel and aluminium exports to the US on 22 March. The solution reached with the US is bespoke for the UK and reflects the needs and interests of our steel and aluminium industries.
From 1 June 2022, the US will replace its Section 232 tariffs on certain UK exports of steel and aluminium with “tariff-rate quotas” (TRQs). This re-opens tariff-free access to the US market back to levels before section 232 tariffs up to a specified volume. This will bring welcome relief to the UK steel and aluminium industries which support the jobs of around 80,000 people across the UK supply chain.
A Written Ministerial Statement detailing the key elements of the solution was laid before the House on 23 March 2022, UIN: HCWS710.
Asked by: Holly Mumby-Croft (Conservative - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what correspondence she has had with the Trade Remedies Authority on the timetable for their re-examination of the UK's steel safeguards.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Trade Remedies Authority, as the independent non-departmental statutory body responsible for carrying out investigations into trade remedies measures is responsible for making decisions regarding its process for any reconsideration it initiates.
Asked by: Holly Mumby-Croft (Conservative - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending section 51 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 ahead of the end of UK steel safeguard measures on 30 June 2021.
Answered by Ranil Jayawardena
HM Government remains committed to protecting domestic industries against unfair practices, such as dumping and subsidies, surge of imports and market distortions.
The Secretary of State will make a decision to accept or reject the TRA recommendation soon. Her powers in this respect are limited: she can only accept or reject the recommendation as a whole.
In addition, I can confirm that the Secretary of State is taking a close look at the tools available to her to protect British industry and to deal with unexpected import surges and unfair trading practices.