HC Deb 02 April 1980 vol 982 cc242-3W
Mr. Marlow

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the powers he has to enable him to prevent dumping in the United Kingdom where such a practice is causing materal injury, not to a particular industry throughout the European Community but solely to the United Kingdom section of that industry.

Mr. Parkinson

As I explained to my hon. Friend in my reply of 21 March 1980—[Vol. 981, c. 355]—action against dumped imports which are causing material injury to a European industry is the responsibility of the European Commission and the United Kingdom has in general no power to take unilateral action, except in the case of certain bulk iron and steel products covered by the Treaty of Paris. However, the provisions of the GATT anti-dumping code and the Community's implementing legislation are sufficently flexible to allow the Commission to take action on behalf of United Kingdom producers when such producers constitute a major part of the Community industry or where it is necessary to act in defence of the industry in a region of the Community.