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Department: Department for International Trade

Nick Smith

Main Page: Nick Smith (Labour - Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)

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UK Telecoms: Huawei
Thursday 25th April 2019

(5 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Liam Fox Portrait Dr Fox
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I know that my hon. Friend has taken a very close interest in free ports. We are close to finalising a report on their potential benefits, and he will be one of the first with whom I will share that information.

Nick Smith Portrait Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
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Some 9,000 people work in the Welsh steel industry, so can I ask the Secretary of State to think again, and support a permanent customs union and commit to a common external tariff on steel imports to support steel jobs in south Wales?

Liam Fox Portrait Dr Fox
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No, I will not commit to that. I have set out the reasons why I believe the application of a common external tariff will be limiting on the UK’s ability to carry out an independent trade policy. What I would say is that we already have the Trade Remedies Authority up and running, and that is the best way to deal with any disputes over steel through WTO rules.[Official Report, 30 April 2019, Vol. 659, c. 2MC.]

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