§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the actions taken during the past two years to protect the steel industry in general and the special steel industry in particular from unfair overseas competition.
§ Mr. MeacherAnti-dumping duties have been imposed on stainless steel bars from Spain and non-alloy light sections from Japan. Following other anti-dumping investigations, satisfactory asssurances were received from the Spanish Government on price and tonnage levels for reinforcing bars and non-alloy light sections and flats. Similar undertakings were given to the EEC Commission by the South African Government covering a wide range of steel exports to the Community and in particular reinforcing bars and non-alloy light sections and flats to the United Kingdom.
An investigation into the dumping of tool steel bars from Sweden was terminated in the light of market developments and a further investigation on high speed and tool steel from Austria was also terminated following receipt of assurances satisfactory to United Kingdom industry.
Imports of a wide range of iron and steel products from the USSR and Romania have been prohibited except under individual import licence. Discussions have taken place with Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic, Hungary and Poland and I am satisfied that the level of deliveries of steel in 1978 will not cause difficulties to our industry.
The Commission is now engaged in negotiations with all the major suppliers of steel to the Community about the price and volume of their exports in 1978 and agreements have already been reached with EFTA countries. Meanwhile, a wide range of provisional anti-dumping duties is in force.