A UK anti-dumping measure on imports of welded tubes and pipes
from China and Belarus will now include galvy tubes in the list
of products covered by the tariff, to protect UK manufacturers of
this product from unfairly low-priced imports from overseas.
The government has today (Thursday 29 June) upheld a
recommendation from the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) to
re-include galvy tubes in the list of imports that will be
subject to a tariff imposed at the UK border, along with other
types of welded tubes and pipes (WTP). Galvy tubes (non-threaded
WTP plated or coated with zinc) are used for a range of purposes
including construction uses such as scaffolding poles.
In its reconsidered decision [link], the TRA recommended amending
its original decision to re-include galvy tubes in the measure on
welded tubes and pipes because it has since been established that
this product is produced within the UK. The TRA also recommended
upholding its original decisions to carry out a dumping
likelihood assessment, and to exclude Russia from the
anti-dumping measures as dumping by Russian producers was
unlikely to occur. In advance on the Government’s decision on the
reconsideration, the TRA’s Chair, Simon Walker, wrote to the
Secretary of State to expand on the issues this case has raised
regarding the UK’s trade relationship with Russia [link to letter
on public file].
The Secretary of State’s decision will now take effect and the
measure will cover galvy tubes as of 30 January 2021.
Background to the measure
In August 2021, the TRA completed its review of the UK’s welded
tubes and pipes trade remedies measure, one of over 40 measures
transitioned from the EU system. A domestic steel producer
subsequently asked the TRA to reconsider its recommendation and
provided new data for the TRA to consider as part of its
investigation. The TRA reconsidered its original decision on
three grounds put forward by the domestic steel producer: (i) it
confirmed that galvy tubes are produced in the UK, (ii) it upheld
its original decision to carry out a dumping likelihood
assessment; (iii) it upheld its original decision to exclude
Russia from the anti-dumping measure.
Reconsiderations are an established part of the UK’s tax regime,
with many different arms of the government incorporating them as
part of their standard operating procedures. They are one of the
main ways businesses can continue to make their case once a
decision that affects them has been made. Reconsiderations at the
TRA are carried out by a reconsideration panel which
reviews the original decision.
Notes to Editors
- The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates
whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair
import practices and unforeseen surges of imports. Read more
about the TRA’s mission in its Business Plan.
- Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU
Commission on the UK’s behalf until the UK left the EU. Over 40
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 assess whether it is suitable for
UK needs.
- The welded tubes and pipes
measure was the first of these measures to be reviewed
and the TRA’s review completed in August 2021.
- The TRA carried out a reconsideration covering the same remit
as the original transition review. It considered, within the
rules set in the UK’s regulatory framework and the underlying
World Trade Organization obligations, whether its original
recommendation was reasonable. As part of this process, the TRA
reviewed all relevant material and evidence, including additional
information provided by interested parties. The TRA’s
recommendation was then submitted to the Secretary of State for a
final decision.
- Anti-dumping duties allow a country to take action against
imports being sold at prices cheaper than they would be sold in
their home market.
- UK industries concerned about imports have been able
to make applications for
new trade remedy measures since January 2021. These
applications are considered by the TRA to see if there are
grounds for an investigation. The TRA has already
initiated five such new investigations since its launch.