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TRA publishes evaluation of its investigation process

The TRA has published an independent research report on its investigation process as part of ongoing accessibility efforts and listening to stakeholders.

From:
Trade Remedies Authority
Published:
5 October 2026

The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has today 5 October 2026 published a research report prepared by an independent research agency, Savanta. The report presents the findings of the agency’s evaluation of the TRA investigation process, based on insight from TRA external stakeholders and staff.

Based on anonymised survey responses and semi-structured interviews with research participants, the research agency developed a list of five recommendations for the TRA:

  1. Personalise onboarding to have clear, plain-English onboarding with named contacts, practical examples, and targeted outreach.

  2. Tailor evidence requests and timeliness to align evidence requirements with each organisation’s size and capacity where possible, and, where not possible, to clearly communicate expected resource needs and to offer flexible deadlines where appropriate.

  3. Enhance progress updates to have regular, proactive progress updates throughout each investigation (e.g. a visible progress tracker, a regular status update, or dashboard in the TRS).

  4. Embed accessibility in the digital platform to have intuitive upload functions and step-by-step digital onboarding support.

  5. Expand staff training to expand formal and scenario-based training, which includes clearer step-by-step process materials, focused resources for communicating with diverse business types, shadowing senior TRA staff and practical demonstrations of participant scenarios.

The TRA has previously set out a commitment to address stakeholder feedback, especially on upgrading the digital Trade Remedies Service (TRS) platform and strengthening business engagement. Since then, the TRA has launched an updated TRS in June 2026 to improve usability, make processes clearer and enhance overall system functionality. The TRA has also received its first strategic steer from the UK Government to be more accessible, assertive and agile. The TRA’s three-year plan, aligned with the strategic steer from Government, sets out how we’re making the UK’s trade defence system simpler, faster and more responsive to business needs.

Read the evaluation report.

Notes to editors:

  • The TRA is the UK body that investigates whether trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
  • The UK Government issued a strategic steer to the TRA in December 2025, in line with the Government’s Trade Strategy. The steer focuses on a simpler, faster trade remedies system that is more responsive to business needs.
  • UK businesses that would like to know more about the options available to protect their industry from unfair international trading practices should contact the TRA Advisory Service. Email: contact@traderemedies.gov.uk.