The UK’s new fully functioning trade remedies system has been
established and will help to protect UK businesses from injury
caused by unfair trading practices, such as dumping and
subsidies, or injury caused by unforeseen surges in imports from
29 March if we leave the EU without a deal.
The Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) has been
established within the Department for International Trade and
will start work from today. TRID will conduct the necessary
preparatory work to ensure that we are ready to commence
investigations as soon as we leave the EU.
This temporary directorate will administer trade remedies
functions until the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) is legally
established as an independent body with the passing of the Trade
Bill.
Our priority is to secure Parliamentary support for the deal we
have negotiated with the EU, under which UK businesses will
continue to benefit from current protections during the
Implementation Period. However, establishing the TRID today
ensures that British businesses will also be protected from
unfair trading practices if we leave without a deal.
Trade remedies allow World Trade Organization (WTO) members to
protect domestic industry from injury caused by unfair trading
practices, such as dumped or subsidised imports, or from injury
caused by unforeseen surges in imports.
Today’s announcement will ensure continued protection for key UK
domestic industries in the event of a no deal scenario.
International Trade Secretary, said:
Our own independent trade remedies system will create a level
playing field for British industries so they can compete with
overseas producers that benefit from unfair trading practices.
This underlines our commitment to ensuring the integrity of the
global rules-based trading system as we take control of our
independent trade policy for the first time in more than 40
years.
UK businesses can contact TRID if they have evidence of unfair
trading practices. Further information on who can submit cases
and how they will be considered will be available shortly.
TRID Chief Executive, Claire Bassett said:
The Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate will be at the
forefront of ensuring that the UK has the ability to protect UK
industry and this is another step forward for us and our
readiness to do this important work.
Director General of UK Steel, Gareth Stace, said:
Today’s announcement launching the UK’s trade remedies system
is a hugely positive announcement, ensuring the UK has the
tools available to protect UK industry from unfair trading
practises from day one of Brexit. I cannot overstate the
importance of this milestone for the steel sector.
We look forward to working with the new directorate and
ultimately the Trade Remedies Authority, once it is up and
running. There is much work to do.
Steve Elliott, Chief Executive of the Chemical Industries
Association said:
Trade remedies are absolutely critical to defend domestic
chemical producers against unfairly priced or subsidised
imports. Industry needs the Trade Remedies Investigation
Directorate to be fully functional from day 1 after the UK
leaves the EU. While our industry still hopes that a deal with
the EU will be agreed we must be ready for the circumstance of
our leaving with no deal.
Trade Remedy investigations are lengthy, expensive and can be a
significant drain on company resources but you have to get them
right or chemical companies and their downstream customers will
suffer. We welcome the secondary legislation that provides some
authority to the TRID carrying out initial activity and we
continue to offer support as the team learn their new roles.
The UK’s system will be fully compliant with WTO rules and will
put in place robust protections where they are needed, restoring
a fair playing field for businesses without imposing unnecessary
costs on supply chains or consumers.
The new Directorate is based in Reading and will be responsible
for investigating cases of unfair trading practices and
unforeseen surges in imports that injure UK businesses. Over 80%
of trade remedies staff have now been appointed.
Last week the government published the full list of EU trade
remedies measures that will be continued after the UK leaves the
EU and takes control of its own trade policy. Trade remedies
measures have only been continued in cases where UK business
supported the measure and where British businesses produce more
than a 1% market share of those particular products sold in the
UK.
UK businesses can contact TRID if they suspect a company of
dumping goods at below market value, think a government is
unfairly subsidising exports or want a temporary tariff to be
applied because of an unforeseen surge in imports.
Businesses can find out more information on who can submit cases
for review and how they will be considered on GOV.UK.
