The UK government has accepted the TRA's recommendation to maintain an anti-dumping measure on ironing boards from China for a further five years.
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has accepted the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA's) recommendation to maintain an anti-dumping measure on imports of ironing boards from China for five more years, until 2029.
In its transition review , the TRA determined that maintaining the current measure for a further five years could help prevent dumping of low-priced ironing boards from China and subsequent injury to UK industry. The TRA found that maintaining the measure met the Economic Interest Test: the measure is not expected to affect the competitive environment or the structure of the UK market for ironing boards.
The TRA's analysis showed that the UK ironing boards production industry employs more than 300 people. Anti-dumping duties will remain at their current levels, ranging from 18.1% to 42.3%, depending on the exporter.
Notes:
- The TRA is the independent UK body that investigates whether trade remedies 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. A number of EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were transitioned across into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA has been reviewing each one through transition reviews to assess whether they are suitable for UK needs.
- Anti-dumping duties allow a country to act against goods which are being sold at less than their normal value - defined as the price for 'like goods' sold in the exporter's home market.
- The Economic Interest Test determines whether applying a measure would lead to costs for the UK economy which are disproportionate to the benefits for UK producers.
- The reviewed products include ironing boards, whether or not free-standing, with or without steam soaking, heating or blowing tops, including sleeve boards and essential parts from China.
- The period of investigation for the review was 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. To assess injury, the TRA chose the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2024 as the injury period.
