TRA reconsideration of welded tubes and pipes review upheld

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.