Toughen up on Chinese steel call

The UK government will leave itself open to accusations of ‘selling British steel down the river’ if it continues to block moves announced today (March 16) to tackle the dumping of cheap Chinese steel, said Unite.

 
The proposals from the European Commission, aimed at accelerating anti-dumping measures and removing the so called lesser duty rule to allow higher anti-dumping tariffs, come ahead of tomorrow’s European Council on jobs, growth and competiveness.

 
Government ministers are under fire for blocking attempts to scrap the lesser duty rule while the crisis hit British steel industry battles for survival in the face of cheap Chinese imports.

 
“These are welcome moves from the European Commission to speed up and toughen up action on the dumping of cheap Chinese steel,” said Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke.

 
“It would be shameful if government ministers continued to block higher tariffs which are essential to ensuring steelmaking in the UK has a future,” he added. “A failure to do so will leave the government open to accusations of selling British steel down the river.

 
“Ministers need to drop their nonsensical opposition to allow higher anti-dumping tariffs and back the European Commission’s plans to protect British jobs before it’s too late.”