HC Deb 02 December 1977 vol 940 cc470-2W
Mr. Wigley

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give details of all the measures taken during the last three years by Her Majesty's Government and the European Commission to limit imports of steel into the Community.

Mr. Meacher

Officials of my Department are in touch with their counterparts in the European Commission and I will pass on to the hon. Member the Commission's reply just as soon as this is available. In the meantime, the following is a list of all measures taken by Her Majesty's Government:

November 1975 A full anti-dumping investigation was initiated into imports of steel reinforcing bars from Spain.

October 1976 A provisional charge to anti-dumping duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem was imposed on imports of stainless steel bars and billets from Spain and a full anti-dumping investigation announced.

December 1976 A provisional charge to anti-dumping duty of £38 per tonne was imposed on imports of steel reinforcing bars from South Africa and a full anti-dumping investigation announced.

January 1977 The provisional charge to anti-dumping duty of 10 per cent. ad valorem on stainless steel bars and billets from Spain (first imposed in October 1976) was extended for a further three months while anti-dumping inquiries continued.

February 1977 Agreement was reached with the Spanish authorities on minimum price levels for imports of steel reinforcing bars and further antidumping inquiries were suspended by Her Majesty's Government. A full anti-dumping investigation was announced into imports of non-alloy steel light sections and flats from South Africa.

March 1977 Revised minimum price levels for imports of steel reinforcing bars were negotiated with the Spanish authorities against the background of a considerable increase in world steel prices. The provisional charge to anti-dumping duty of £38 per tonne on imports of steel reinforcing bars from South Africa (first imposed in December 1976) was extended for a further three months while anti-dumping inquiries continued. The following full anti-dumping investigations were also announced: Non-alloy steel light sections and flats from Japan; High speed and tool steel bars from Austria; Non-alloy steel light sections and flats from Spain coupled with a provisional charge to anti-dumping duty of £31.50 per tonne on light sections.

April 1977 Anti-dumping investigations into imports of stainless steel bars and billets from Spain (begun in October 1976) were completed. A substantive anti-dumping duty of between 8 and 16 per cent ad valorem, dependent on type of steel, was imposed on stainless steel bars. Further anti-dumping investigations into stainless steel billets were suspended by Her Majesty's Government following the receipt of satisfactory assurances from the producer concerned. A provisional charge to antidumping duty of £20 per tonne was imposed on imports of non-alloy steel light flats from Japan while investigations continued.

May 1977 A provisional charge to anti-dumping duty of £15 per tonne was imposed on imports of non-alloy steel light flats from Japan while investigations continued. A full anti-dumping investigation was announced into imports of tool steel bars from Sweden.

June 1977 As part of an EEC/South Africa restraint agreement negotiated between the European Commission and the South African Government, Her Majesty's Government were able to secure an undertaking that imports of non-alloy steel light sections and flats and steel reinforcing bars from South Africa would be limited to tonnages acceptable to the United Kingdom steel industry over the period 1st January 1977 to 31st March 1978. In acknowledgement of the assurances received, Her Majesty's Government agreed to suspend further anti-dumping investigations into imports of light sections and flats (announced in February 1977) and steel reinforcing bars (announced in December 1976). In addition, the provisional charge to anti-dumping duty of £38 per tonne on imports of reinforcing bars (first imposed in December 1976) was revoked. The provisional charge to anti-dumping of £31.50 per tonne on non-alloy steel light sections and flats from Spain (first imposed in March 1977) was extended for a further three months while anti-dumping inquiries continued.

July/August 1977 Further anti-dumping action against imports of high speed and tool steel from Austria (announced in March 1977) was suspended following the receipt of satisfactory assurances from the producers concerned. Anti-dumping investigations into imports of non-alloy steel light sections and flats from Japan were completed. A measure of dumping was found in the case of light flats but insufficient to justify the imposition of a substantive duty. As regards light sections, however, a substantive anti-dumping duty of £11 per tonne was imposed.

November 1977 Further anti-dumping action against imports of non-alloy steel light sections and flats (announced in March 1977) and steel reinforcing bars from Spain (first announced in November 1975) was suspended following the receipt of satisfactory assurances from the Spanish Government on price and tonnage levels. The provisional charge of £31.50 per tonne of light sections (first imposed in March 1977) lapsed on 30th September 1977.