Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate he has made of the number of businesses which will be affected by an increase in the cast iron articles tariff as a result of EU regulations on anti-dumping duty on imports of certain cast iron articles.

In relation to EU Regulation 2017/1480 imposing anti-dumping duties on certain types of cast iron products, officials have received representations from three importers, of which they have met two, as well as representations from one group of European producers, which includes one UK producer.

In terms of analysing the effect of these regulations, the UK government examines all trade defence cases carefully and judges each on its own merits. This is based on an economic evaluation of the evidence presented in the European Commission’s draft regulation sent to Member States with any proposal for measures, together with information received from interested parties, including producers, importers and users of the product.

The Commission’s anti-dumping investigation concerning imports of cast iron articles from China and India is ongoing, and yet to make its final proposals. Officials have not made representations to the Commission at this stage in the investigation.

This is one of several trade defence measures which are being applied by the EU which affect UK industry. The Government is looking into the detail of UK trade remedies policy as a whole as we leave the EU. The Government is seeking to maintain continuity for businesses as we exit from the EU. We invite responses to the consultations launched as part of the Department’s recently published White Paper: ‘Preparing for our future UK trade policy’.