TRA proposes keeping Corrosion Resistant Steel measure
The TRA has published interim findings recommending that an anti-dumping measure on imports of Corrosion Resistant Steel from China be maintained.
The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has today [Wednesday 7 February] published interim findings recommending that an anti-dumping measure on imports of Corrosion Resistant Steel (CRS) from China be kept for a further five years.
The TRA opened a transition review into the measure in February 2023. Primarily used in the construction and manufacturing industries, the process of making CRS effectively makes the steel rustproof and as such it is used in the manufacture of such products as domestic appliances, steel vents and fencing.
In its interim findings, the TRA has proposed that the anti-dumping measure be maintained until at least 9 February 2028.
The TRA’s Statement of Essential Facts has also recommended that the level of duties applicable to Chinese exporters remain unchanged, ranging from 17.2% to 27.9%.
CRS is worth around £63 million to the UK economy annually. The TRA found that following the imposition of the European Union’s measure in 2018, imports into the UK from China fell by 96% from 363,000 metric tonnes in 2016, to 16,000 metric tonnes in 2018.
However, the TRA found that it is likely that dumping of CRS from China would recur if the anti-dumping measure were no longer applied and that industry would likely be injured if the measure were no longer applied. It also found that the continued application of the measure is in the economic interest of the UK. On that basis, the TRA recommended that the anti-dumping measure on CRS is extended for a period of five years.
Businesses that may be affected by these findings (such as importers or exporters of the products or UK producers of similar products) have until 28 February 2024 to respond.
Background information
- The TRA is the UK body that investigates whether trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
- Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK’s behalf until the UK left the EU. A number of EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were carried across into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA is currently reviewing each one to check if it is suitable for UK needs. View further information on our current transition reviews.
- Anti-dumping duties allow a country or union to take action against goods which are being sold at less than their normal value – this is defined as the price for ‘like goods’ sold in the exporter’s home market.
- These measures are one of the three types of trade remedy measures – along with countervailing measures against countervailable subsidies and safeguard measures which address sudden, unforeseen floods of imports – that are allowed under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.
- Corrosion resistant steel: the goods being reviewed are flat rolled, iron/alloy/non alloy steel, aluminium killed (meaning the steel has been deoxidized with aluminium, thus eliminating any reaction between carbon and oxygen during solidification), and then plated or coated by hot dip galvanisation with zinc and/or aluminium and/or magnesium.
- Registered interested parties to the case can make submissions on the Trade Remedies Service (TRS) online platform. Those not registered on the TRS may send submissions by email to TD0031@traderemedies.gov.uk.