§ Mr. AllanTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with(a) the UK steel industry, (b) the European Commission and (c) the US Government, concerning tariffs on steel imports into the USA. [17383]
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§ Mr. WilsonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry met with representatives of the lion and Steel Trade Confederation on 18 October and with representatives of Corns on 29 October when issues surrounding international trade in steel were discussed. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and my noble Friend Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean also raised the issue at a high level with the US Administration when they visited the US in July. The Government remain concerned at the prospect of US unilateral action under Section 201 of the Trade Act 1974 which would severely disrupt international trade in steel and damage UK steel manufacturing and employment interests. We support the view that Commissioner Lamy has expressed: the cost of restructuring the US steel industry should not be shifted on to the rest of the world. The appropriate way to address global steel trade issues is through multilateral discussion.