§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations on competition grounds he has made to the European Commission about the proposed merger of the steel tube interests of the main Italian Ilva, German Mannesmann and French Usinor, steel companies.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonI understand the proposed joint venture between Ilva, Mannesmann and Usinor Sacilor, to combine their stainless steel seamless tube operations, is likely to fall for investigation by the European Commission under the merger control regulation. Mergers which qualify for investigation must be notified to the European Commission and member states have the opportunity to comment on them. The United Kingdom passes comments to the EC Commission on all notified cases. If the proposed joint venture between the three steel companies is notified the United Kingdom will assess its competition implications and submit comments in the usual way.
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§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has made to the United States Government following their announcement that they will be imposing a 105 per cent. levy on imported British steel; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answer 2 February 1993]: The provisional anti-dumping duties of 109.22 per cent. on British Steel exports of steel plate are unwarranted and wholly disproportionate.
The actions, brought by the protected United States steel industry, cannot help efforts to secure a much-needed multilateral steel arrangement.
The President of the Board of Trade has written to United States Commerce Secretary Ron Brown urging him to focus on these matters at the earliest opportunity. The issue was also raised at the Foreign Affairs Council on 2 February.