The government has today (Wednesday 1 March) agreed with the Trade Remedies Authority's recommendation to extend anti-dumping measures on imports of High Fatigue Performance Steel Concrete Reinforcement Bars (HFP Rebar) from China.
HFP Rebar, also known as reinforcement steel and reinforcing steel, is typically used in the construction industry to reinforce concrete and masonry structures to strengthen and hold the concrete in tension. The predominant use of HFP Rebar is in construction, which employs an estimated 1.4 to 2.2 million employees and is worth over £108 billion to the UK economy.
The anti-dumping measures will be maintained at their current levels for 5 years from 30 July 2021.
Investigation findings
Before publishing a final determination, the TRA publishes its initial findings in a Statement of Essential Facts (SEF), on which interested parties have the opportunity to provide comments and submissions.
Following publication of the TRA's interim findings in this case, it considered additional submissions from case parties and import data which had become available since the publication of the SEF. These indicated that falling levels of imports of HFP Rebar from Russia and Belarus were being compensated for by rising imports from other countries. In addition, the TRA expected demand from the UK construction industry to grow less rapidly than previously expected. Taking this additional data into account, the TRA recommended to the Secretary of State to extend the measures on HFP Rebar imports.
Background information
- The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) is the independent UK body, established in June 2021, as the first non-departmental public body of the Department for International Trade, that investigates whether trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
- Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK's behalf until the UK left the EU. EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were carried across into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA is currently reviewing each one to assess whether it is suitable for UK needs.
- Anti-dumping duties allow a country or union to take action against goods sold at less than their normal value, which is defined as the price for 'like goods' sold in the exporter's home market.
- The European Commission imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of HFP Rebar from China in July 2016. This is the measure that the TRA is currently reviewing. The Commission allowed the EU measure to expire on 29 July 2021 without review.
