§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the volume and value of tool steel imported into the United Kingdom from Austria in 1975, 1976 and the first three months of 1977; and what were the comparable figures of imports from Sweden, Spain and Japan;
(2) what was the volume and value of stainless bar steel imported into the United Kingdom from Austria, in 1975, 1976 and the first three months of 1977; and what were the comparable figures of imports from Sweden, Spain and Japan.
(3) what was the volume and value of high speed steel imported into the United Kingdom from Austria in 1975, 1976 and the first three months of 1977; and what were the comparable figures of imports from Sweden, Spain and Japan.
§ Mr. MeacherFigures for tool steel and high-speed steel are not available, as imports are not recorded in sufficient detail in the overseas trade statistics to distinguish them separately. The latest figures for imports of stainless and heat resisting bar steel are as follows:
have been made to his Department by the British Independent Steel Producers 395W Association in the past 12 months about the dumping of special steels from Austria, Sweden, Spain and Japan; and what action has been taken;
(2) how many representations have been made to his Department by the British Steel Corporation in the past 12 months about the dumping of special steels in the United Kingdom market from Austria, Sweden, Spain and Japan;
(3) what anti-dumping duties have been levied on (a) tool steel, (b) high-speed steel and (c) stainless steel bar within the past 12 months on imports from Austria, Sweden, Spain and Japan;
(4) what discussions are currently taking place within the EEC concerning the dumping of special steels from Austria, Sweden, Spain, or Japan; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MeacherThe British Independent Steel Producers Association has made a series of inter-related formal applications for action against allegedly dumped imports of special steels. There have been no formal applications from the British Steel Corporation covering these products.
In September last year, in discussions with the Commission acting on our behalf, the Japanese gave forecasts of their exports to the United Kingdom of high-speed, tool and stainless steels. These forecasts have been broadly adhered to. Discussions about future trends are continuing.
BISPA is also concerned about imports of high-speed and tool steel bars from Sweden and Austria. These countries are
396W
SECTIONS 2 AND 4 OF SITC(R) £million cif Principal commodities South Africa … … … 139.1 Fur skins; pulp; wool; silver and platinum ore. Morocco … … … 43.3 Phosphates. South West Africa … … … 29.2 Fur skins. Nigeria … … … 25.0 Palm nuts; rubber. Ivory Coast … … … 18.0 Timber. Ghana … … … 16.0 Timber; bauxite; manganese ore. Mauritania … … … 14.8 Iron ore. Ethiopia … … … 13.1 Silver and platinum waste. Senegal … … … 12.4 Phosphates. Sudan … … … 8.2 Cotton. Liberia … … … 7.8 Timber; iron ore. Malawi … … … 7.1 Groundnuts. Other countries … … … 62.2 Total … … … 397.0 associate members of the European Coal and Steel Community. For their ECSC products the ECSC price alignment rules are used to maintain fair competition. Possible breaches of these rules are being investigated by the European Commission, which, at our request, has approached the Swedish and Austrian authorities. Non-ECSC products are covered by the normal antidumping rules. In the case of Sweden, a detailed case prepared by the Department with the assistance of BISPA was sent to the Swedish authorities. There have been a number of exchanges about the content of our dossier and we hope to receive a substantive reply shortly.
In the case of Austria, a formal antidumping investigation into imposts of high-speed and tool steel bars was announced on 25th March.
On Spanish stainless steel bars and billets a provisional charge has been in force since October 1976.