- Business Secretary sets new direction to make the UK's trade
defence system simpler, faster and more responsive to business
needs, delivering on the Trade Strategy
- UK producers and manufacturers, including SMEs, to benefit
from streamlined investigations, and more support from the
Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), and a new Import Monitoring
Tool to help identify risks
- New powers bring UK trade remedies into line
with international peers, with greater discretion to impose
higher duties under certain circumstances, and initiate cases
under WTO rules
UK producers and manufacturers will benefit from a simpler and
faster system for tackling unfair trade practices, as the
Government issues its first strategic steer to the Trade Remedies
Authority (TRA), delivering commitments set out in the Trade
Strategy.
These reforms mean UK producers – from industry giants in steel
and ceramics to SMEs – will have clearer routes and more support
to raise concerns with the TRA, the independent body that
investigates unfair trade practices.
By listening to industry needs, the steer will ensure faster
decisions when unfair trade practices are identified and more
support to access protections to safeguard jobs and investment.
Producers still need to apply to the TRA and provide evidence,
but the TRA is making this far easier. Through the new
Advisory Service, launched in July, the TRA offers tailored
guidance —helping firms navigate technical trade rules, horizon
scanning for risks, and publishing trade data and research to
support companies with faster, high-quality applications. These
changes will ensure consistent support throughout a case and
significantly reduce the administrative burden on businesses.
Today, the TRA is going further with publication of their import
monitoring analysis tool, which highlights trade patterns of data
that may warrant further investigation. The TRA will work hand in
hand with businesses to assess the data and identify risks of
negative impacts on UK producers.
By equipping the TRA with the tools to act decisively, the
Government is ensuring the UK's trade remedies system supports
growth, strengthens competitiveness, and helps businesses thrive
in global markets.
Business & Trade Secretary said:
“We are strengthening the UK's system for tackling unfair trade
to give our producers and manufacturers – especially SMEs who
have less capacity and capability– the backing they need to grow
and compete.
“By streamlining processes and aligning our framework with
international peers, we are ensuring UK industry has the tools to
protect jobs, attract investment and thrive in a changing global
economy.”
The latest Finance Bill introduces changes to make the UK's trade
remedies system more flexible and aligned with international
peers like the EU and Australia.
These reforms will give the Government more options - within
WTO rules - when setting duty levels or starting new cases.
This means decisions can be made in a way that better supports UK
businesses.
The TRA's Co-Chief Executives Jessica Blakely and Carmen
Suarez said:
“We welcome the government's strategic steer, which marks a
significant milestone in our shared goal to make the UK's trade
remedies regime more agile, accessible and assertive, as well as
providing greater accountability.
“Further to our work to date, including the recently launched
Trade Remedies Advisory Service and the Import Trends Monitor, we
will continue to focus on delivering more efficiently and
effectively on our mission to defend the UK economic interests
against unfair international trade practices.”
Industry voices across all sectors have welcomed the reforms as a
vital step in making the trade remedies system faster and easier
to navigate.
, Ceramics UK said:
“We are delighted that the Business Secretary has listened to us
as the voice of UK ceramics manufacturers and made the system
more responsive and easier to navigate.
“At a time when the highest quality products made in Britain are
under threat like never before from unfair dumping and other
sharp practices by overseas competitors, this is very welcome
news.”
Notes to editors
- Legislative changes announced in the Finance Bill will only
take effect once approved by Parliament through the usual bill
process and further secondary legislation. These reforms are
separate from measures to improve speed and accessibility, and
the new powers are expected to be used in limited circumstances.
- The TRA is the independent UK government body that
investigates whether trade remedy measures are needed to counter
unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
