Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Steel Imports: Removal of Tariffs

Thursday 15 July 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Trade Remedies Authority assessed and recommended extending 10 of 19 steel safeguards.
  • The UK government introduced legislation following the Trade Remedies Authority's recommendations.
  • Gareth Stace, director general of UK Steel, welcomed the government's decision on 30 June.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marion Fellows SNP
Business & Trade
Context

The UK is reviewing trade remedies for the steel sector, including tariffs on imports. The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has made recommendations regarding these safeguards.

Question

What assessment she has made of the potential effect on the UK steel sector of removing tariffs on steel imports?

Answer from Greg Hands

The Trade Remedies Authority assesses the UK's trade remedies and makes recommendations to the Secretary of State. This includes the recent review of the UK steel safeguards. The Government accepted the recommendation of the TRA to extend 10 of 19 steel safeguards. The Government also introduced legislation to allow us to extend the current steel safeguards measure for an initial period of 12 months to a further five categories.

Answered
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Q2 Marion Fellows SNP
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The UK Government accepted only a portion of the Trade Remedies Authority's recommendations for extending steel tariffs, leading to concerns within the sector about fair competition.

Question

The Trade Remedies Authority recommended revoking nine of 19 steel safeguards despite calls from the sector and the all-party parliamentary group on steel, which wanted all tariffs extended. The UK steel sector is not on a level playing field with competitors because of higher energy costs and the lack of a corporate industrial strategy from this and successive Tory Governments. Is this not another broken Brexit promise to a domestic industry and its workers?

Answer from Greg Hands

I remind the hon. Lady that we have invested £500 million in recent years to help with the cost of energy. I also remind her of the welcome from the sector for the Secretary of State's decision on 30 June, when Gareth Stace, director general of UK Steel, said: “Today the UK steel sector applauds the Prime Minister…and Trade Secretary…for standing up for steel” and “taking back control”.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response does not directly address whether removing some safeguards breaks a Brexit promise or fully respond to concerns about lack of corporate industrial strategy.

How: Remind The Hon. Lady

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