§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress they have made in their representations to the United States Government concerning the imposition of restrictions on the importation into the United States of steel from the United Kingdom announced earlier this year. [HL5327]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanWe have continued to make clear to the US that we consider their action to be in breach of their WTO obligations. A WTO dispute panel has now been established to consider the complaints of the EU and six other countries.
We continue actively to support UK companies in their efforts to secure product exclusions from the US measures and we continue to press the US Administration at the highest levels on this.
We have had some successes so far, but we want and expect more products to be excluded before the deadline for exclusions (now extended to 31 August) expires.
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§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many jobs will be lost in the United Kingdom as a result of the importation restrictions on United Kingdom steel imposed by the United States Government, if they are not modified. [HL5328]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanIt is not possible to say precisely how many jobs will be affected by the US import restrictions. The volume of UK exports directly affected by restrictions represents less than 2 per cent of the UK steel output. However, some smaller UK companies are more reliant on the US market and will therefore be more significantly affected by decisions on product exclusions. The indirect effects on UK steel producers are potentially more important but more uncertain. In particular, those arising from the possible deflection of exports from other EU member states, which would otherwise have been destined for the US market, are difficult to calculate.