Trade remedies transition policy
Trade remedies protect domestic industries from unfair practices around imports. The UK’s own independent trade policy includes a trade remedies system.
Trade remedies protect domestic industries against injury caused by unfair trade practices (imports of dumped or subsidised goods) or unforeseen surges in imports. They usually take the form of an additional duty placed on imports of specific products.
During the transition period, the Secretary of State for International Trade assessed which definitive EU remedy measures, in force at the end of the transition period, should be transitioned into the UK trade remedies system. For the EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures, this was done via a Call for Evidence with UK industry and other interested parties, including international industry. For the EU steel safeguard measure, the Secretary of State identified 19 product categories covered by the EU steel safeguard measure where UK production exists.
After the 2018 Call for Evidence, the Secretary of State for International Trade continued to assess relevant EU trade remedy measures to determine whether there was a UK producer interest in maintaining these after 31 December 2020. The final list of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures maintained after 31 December 2020 is detailed below, along with details of steel safeguard measures which have also been maintained.
Transition reviews
All anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard measures that the UK has maintained will undergo a UK-wide transition review led by the Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID). Transition reviews will assess whether the maintained measure is appropriate for the UK market and whether it should be changed or terminated. For further information please read our Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) dumping, subsidisation and safeguarding investigations guidance document and TRID’s operational guidance.
The Secretary of State has published all Notices of Determination for measures the UK has maintained. Ahead of the maintained measures’ expiry date, TRID will issue a Notice of Initiation to formally begin the transition review of the measure.
You can view all live and completed transition reviews on the Trade Remedies Service.
For more information about TRID or to express your views about any current trade remedies, email [email protected].
Safeguard measures
The UK has maintained EU safeguard measures where there is a UK interest in doing so. As with the maintained definitive anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures, TRID will conduct a UK-wide transition review to assess whether the measure is appropriate for the UK market, and as such whether it should be varied or terminated.
Steel safeguard measures
The Secretary of State identified 19 product categories covered by the EU steel safeguard measure where UK production exists. These were transitioned in order to provide continuity to UK producers.
The remaining associated product categories, where no UK production exists, were not transitioned and the relevant tariff rate quotas therefore ceased to apply to imports at 11pm on 31 December 2020.
UK specific tariff rate quotas
In order to ensure the transitioned safeguard measures worked specifically for the UK from the first day operating an independent trade policy, DIT also collected information regarding historical trade flows of steel products between 2015 and 2017 that fall under this measure in order to permit a recalculation of the tariff rate quotas (TRQs).
The UK specific TRQs were recalculated using the same method deployed by the European Commission. The UK specific TRQs for the 19 product categories the UK has transitioned are available in the Secretary of State’s Notice of Determination for this measure.
Steel products to be transitioned or terminated
Below is the list of the 26 EU product categories against which the UK has either transitioned or terminated within the safeguard measure.
| Product category number | Steel Product Categories subject to EU Safeguard Measures | Subject to UK Safeguard Measures? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non-Alloy and Other Alloy Hot Rolled Sheets and Strips | Maintained |
| 2 | Non-Alloy and Other Alloy Cold Rolled Sheets | Maintained |
| 3A | Electrical Sheets (other than GOES) | Terminated |
| 3B | Electrical Sheets (other than GOES) | Terminated |
| 4A | Metallic Coated Sheets | Maintained |
| 4B | Metallic Coated Sheets | Maintained |
| 5 | Organic Coated Sheets | Maintained |
| 6 | Tin Mill products | Maintained |
| 7 | Non-Alloy and Other Alloy Quarto Plates | Maintained |
| 8 | Stainless Hot Rolled Sheets and Strips | Terminated |
| 9 | Stainless Cold Rolled Sheets and Strips | Terminated |
| 10 | Stainless Hot Rolled Quarto Plates | Terminated |
| 12 | Non-Alloy and Other Alloy Merchant Bars and Light Sections | Maintained |
| 13 | Rebars | Maintained |
| 14 | Stainless Bars and Light Sections | Maintained |
| 15 | Stainless Wire Rod | Maintained |
| 16 | Non-Alloy and Other Alloy Wire Rod | Maintained |
| 17 | Angles, Shapes and Sections of Iron or Non Alloy Steel | Maintained |
| 18 | Sheet Piling | Terminated |
| 19 | Railway Material | Maintained |
| 20 | Gas pipes | Maintained |
| 21 | Hollow sections | Maintained |
| 22 | Seamless Stainless Tubes and Pipes | Terminated |
| 24 | Other Seamless Tubes | Terminated |
| 25A | Large welded tubes | Maintained |
| 25B | Large welded tubes | Maintained |
| 26 | Other Welded Pipes | Maintained |
| 27 | Non-Alloy and other alloy cold finished bars | Maintained |
| 28 | Non-Alloy Wire | Maintained |
Note: Product Category 11, Grain-Oriented Electrical Sheet, and Product Category 23, Bearing Tubes and Pipes, are not listed because the EU concluded that these product categories should not be subject to a safeguard measure.
Further information relating to a break-down of the country specific and residual TRQs per product category can be found in the Secretary of State’s Notice of Determination for this measure.
Next steps and transition review
The UK specific TRQs on the 19 product categories outlined above came into effect at 11pm on 31 December 2020, following the publication of a Taxation Notice from the Secretary of State for International Trade.
The Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) - as the UK’s competent trade remedies authority pending the establishment of the Trade Remedies Authority - will conduct a transition review of the definitive safeguard measures across the 19 steel product categories to ensure these measures fully reflect the UK market situation.
These reviews will consider whether it is appropriate to vary the tariff rate quota associated with the product category on a country by country basis. Further information can be found at the Trade Remedies Investigation Directorate operational guidance on the transition review of EU steel safeguard measures.
Anti-dumping and anti-subsidy trade remedy measures
The table summarises which definitive EU anti-dumping or anti-subsidy trade remedy measures, in force at the end of the transition period, the UK has maintained or terminated as part of its independent trade policy. The UK imposed the same trade remedy measures as the EU until the end of the transition period, when we ceased to apply the Common External Tariff. The measures the Secretary of State determined should be maintained continue to apply until they expire, or until TRID completes the transition review and determines whether the measure should be varied, extended or terminated to reflect the circumstances of the UK market.
The UK is now operating its own independent trade remedies system. You can apply to the Trade Remedies Service if you want TRID to investigate imports which are causing or threatening injury to UK industry.
You can only ask for a trade remedy:
- if you believe imported goods are being dumped on the UK market at prices below their normal value or benefiting from subsidies
- there is a sharp, sudden increase in imports to the UK of a certain product
TRID has established a Pre-Application Office (PAO).
The PAO can:
- help you decide whether a trade remedy is appropriate for you
- advise you on the requirements involved in an application
- answer your questions on other aspects of the service
If you would like to make an application, email the PAO at [email protected].
UK government transition policy
A measure marked with a (*) in the table below signifies that the Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) is currently conducting a transition review on this measure. Transition reviews will assess whether the maintained measure is appropriate for the UK market and whether it should be varied, changed or terminated. You can view all live and completed transition reviews on the Trade Remedies Service.
A measure marked with a (†) in the below table signifies that the production of this measure in the UK had ceased and was unlikely to recommence in the UK in the foreseeable future. The Secretary of State reassessed this measure, working with UK producers and sector stakeholders. They determined that this measure should not be maintained, as it no longer met the criteria of the Call for Evidence.
Transition period updates to measures
This table reflects changes that were made during the transition period at the EU-level to the measures the UK has maintained or terminated.
Those changes are:
- the EU merged the anti-dumping measures on Ironing Boards (AD506 and AD548)
- the EU did not renew the Bioethanol measure against the USA (AD580), meaning that it fell away from the Call for Evidence findings - the Call for Evidence concluded that this measure should be transitioned
- the EU did not renew the Manganese Dioxide measure against South Africa (AD520), meaning that it fell away from the Call for Evidence findings - the Call for Evidence concluded that this measure should be terminated
- the EU imposed an anti-dumping measure on Urea ammonium nitrate (AD649) - the Secretary of State assessed this measure, working with UK producers and sector stakeholders to do so, and determined that this measure should be terminated as it did not meet the criteria of the Call for Evidence
- the EU imposed an anti-subsidy measure on Indonesian Biodiesel (AS650) - the Secretary of State assessed this measure, working with UK producers and sector stakeholders to do so, and determined that this measure should be maintained as it met criteria of the Call for Evidence
- the EU imposed an anti-dumping measure on Steel Road Wheels (AD652) – the Secretary of State has reassessed this measure, working with UK producers and sector stakeholders. It determined that this measure should not be maintained, as it no longer meets the criteria of the Call for Evidence
- the EU imposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on Glass fibre fabrics (certain woven and/or stitched) (AD653 and AS656) – the Secretary of State assessed these measures, working with UK producers and sector stakeholders to do so, and determined that these measures should not be maintained as they did not meet the criteria of the Call for Evidence
- the EU imposed an anti-dumping measure on Polyvinyl alcohol (certain) (PVA) (AD654) – the Secretary of State assessed this measure working with UK producers and sector stakeholders to do so and determined that this measure should not be maintained as it did not meet the criteria of the Call for Evidence
- the EU imposed an anti-subsidy measure on Glass fibre reinforcements (glass fibres products (GFR) (AS657) – the Secretary of State assessed this measure working with UK producers and sector stakeholders to do so and determined that this measure should be maintained as it met the criteria of the Call for Evidence
- the EU imposed anti-dumping measures on Stainless steel hot-rolled flat products (SSHR) (AD658) – the Secretary of State assessed these measures working with UK producers and sector stakeholders to do so and determined that these measures should not be maintained as they did not meet the criteria of the Call for Evidence
- the EU imposed an anti-dumping measure on Thermal paper (certain heavyweight) (AD659) – the Secretary of State assessed this measure working with UK producers and sector stakeholders to do so and determined that this measure should not be maintained as it did not meet the criteria of the Call for Evidence
- UK producers contacted the Secretary of State with new evidence showing changes to UK production and/or market share of products covered by the EU anti-dumping measure on Bicycles (AD287) and anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures Electric Bicycles (AD643 and AS646). The Secretary of State reassessed these measures, working with UK producers and sector stakeholders to do so, and determined that these measures should now be maintained as they met the criteria of the Call for Evidence
| Name of measure | Case code (AD – Anti dumping, AS – Anti subsidy) | Countries against which measures are applied | Terminated or maintained from 1 January 2021? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acesulfame potassium | AD611 | China | Terminated |
| Aluminium foil | AD610 | Russia | Terminated |
| Aluminium foil in large rolls | AD534 | China | Terminated |
| Aluminium foil in small rolls | AD582 | China | Maintained |
| Aluminium radiators | AD578 | China | Terminated |
| Aluminium road wheels | AD541 | China | Maintained |
| Ammonium nitrate | AD330 | Russia | Maintained |
| Aspartame (sweetener) | AD621 | China | Terminated |
| Barium carbonate | AD475 | China | Terminated |
| Bicycles | AD287 | China (extended to certain bicycle parts) (extended to Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Tunisia) | Maintained |
| Biodiesel | AS644 | Argentina | Maintained |
| Biodiesel | AD531 | USA (extended to Canada) | Maintained* |
| Biodiesel | AS532 | USA (extended to Canada) | Maintained* |
| Biodiesel | AS650 | Indonesia | Maintained |
| Cast iron articles | AD637 | China | Maintained |
| Ceramic tableware / Kitchenware | AD586 | China | Maintained |
| Ceramic tiles | AD560 | China | Maintained |
| Chamois leather | AD496 | China | Maintained |
| Citric acid | AD522 | China (extended to Malaysia) | Terminated |
| Citrus fruits | AD524 | China | Terminated |
| Coated fine paper | AD552 | China | Terminated |
| Coated fine paper | AS557 | China | Terminated |
| Cold rolled flat steel products | AD620 | China | Maintained |
| Cold rolled flat steel products | AD620 | Russia | Maintained |
| Corrosion resistant steel | AD639 | China | Maintained |
| Electric bicycles | AD643 | China | Maintained |
| Electric bicycles | AS646 | China | Maintained |
| Ferro silicon | AD516 | China | Terminated |
| Ferro silicon | AD516 | Russia | Terminated |
| Glass fibre fabrics (certain woven and/or stitched) | AD653 | China | Terminated |
| Glass fibre fabrics (certain woven and/or stitched) | AD653 | Egypt | Terminated |
| Glass fibre fabrics (certain woven and/or stitched) | AS656 | China | Terminated |
| Glass fibre fabrics (certain woven and/or stitched) | AS656 | Egypt | Terminated |
| Glass fibre products (certain continuous filament) | AD549 | China | Maintained |
| Glass fibre products (certain filament) (GFP) | AS603 | China | Maintained |
| Glass fibre reinforcements (glass fibres products) | AS657 | Egypt | Maintained |
| Grain orientated flat-rolled products of electrical steel (GOES) | AD608 | China | Terminated † |
| Grain orientated flat-rolled products of electrical steel (GOES) | AD608 | Japan | Terminated † |
| Grain orientated flat-rolled products of electrical steel (GOES) | AD608 | Korea | Terminated † |
| Grain orientated flat-rolled products of electrical steel (GOES) | AD608 | Russia | Terminated † |
| Grain orientated flat-rolled products of electrical steel (GOES) | AD608 | USA | Terminated † |
| Graphite electrode systems | AD469 | India | Terminated |
| Graphite electrode systems | AS470 | India | Terminated |
| Hand pallet trucks and their essential parts | AD474 | China (extended to Thailand and Vietnam) | Terminated |
| Heavy (quarto) plate | AD631 | China | Maintained |
| High tenacity polyester yarns | AD547 | China | Terminated |
| Hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel | AD635 | Brazil | Maintained |
| Hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel | AD630 | China | Maintained |
| Hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel | AS634 | China | Maintained |
| Hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel | AD635 | Iran | Maintained |
| Hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel | AD635 | Russia | Maintained |
| Hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel | AD635 | Ukraine | Maintained |
| Ironing boards | AD548 | China | Maintained |
| Lever arch mechanisms | AD491 | China | Terminated |
| Lightweight thermal paper (65gr/m2 or less) | AD629 | Korea | Terminated |
| Melamine | AD554 | China | Terminated |
| Molybdenum wires | AD540 | China (extended to Malaysia) | Terminated |
| Monosodium glutamate | AD521 | China | Terminated |
| Monosodium glutamate | AD602 | Indonesia | Terminated |
| Okoume plywood | AD471 | China | Terminated |
| Open mesh glass fibre fabrics | AD558 | China (extended to India, Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand) | Terminated |
| Organic coated steel | AD584 | China | Maintained |
| Organic coated steel | AS587 | China | Maintained |
| Oxalic acid | AD568 | China | Terminated |
| Oxalic acid | AD568 | India | Terminated |
| Peroxosulphates | AD511 | China | Terminated |
| Polyethylene terephthalate | AS426 | India | Maintained |
| Polyvinyl alcohol (certain) (PVA) | AD654 | China | Terminated |
| PSC wires and strands | AD529 | China | Maintained* |
| Rainbow trout | AS606 | Turkey | Maintained* |
| Rebar | AD633 | Belarus | Terminated |
| Rebar (high fatigue performance steel reinforcing bars) | AD619 | China | Maintained |
| Ring binder mechanisms | AD350 | China (extended to Laos and Vietnam) | Terminated |
| Seamless pipes and tubes (large 406.4mm) | AD632 | China | Terminated |
| Seamless pipes and tubes of iron or steel | AD533 | China | Terminated |
| Seamless pipes and tubes of iron or steel | AD490 | Russia | Terminated |
| Seamless pipes and tubes of iron or steel | AD490 | Ukraine | Terminated |
| Seamless pipes and tubes of stainless steel | AD565 | China | Terminated |
| Silicon metal | AD245 | China (extended to Korea and Taiwan) | Terminated |
| Sodium cyclamate | AD467 | China | Terminated |
| Sodium cyclamate | AD467 | Indonesia | Terminated |
| Sodium cyclamate | AD626 | China | Terminated |
| Sodium gluconate | AD544 | China | Terminated |
| Solar glass | AD598 | China | Terminated |
| Solar glass | AS599 | China | Terminated |
| Stainless steel bars and rods | AS556 | India | Maintained |
| Stainless steel cold rolled flat products | AD607 | China | Terminated |
| Stainless steel cold rolled flat products | AD607 | Taiwan | Terminated |
| Stainless steel hot-rolled flat products (SSHR) | AD658 | China | Terminated |
| Stainless steel hot-rolled flat products (SSHR) | AD658 | Indonesia | Terminated |
| Stainless steel hot-rolled flat products (SSHR) | AD658 | Taiwan | Terminated |
| Stainless steel tubes and pipe butt wielding fittings | AD622 | China | Terminated |
| Stainless steel tubes and pipe butt wielding fittings | AD622 | Taiwan | Terminated |
| Steel road wheels | AD652 | China | Terminated |
| Steel (wire) ropes and cables | AD384 | China (extended to Korea and Morocco) | Maintained |
| Sulphanilic acid | AD444 | China | Terminate |
| Sweetcorn | AD507 | Thailand | Terminated |
| Tartaric acid | AD488 | China | Terminated |
| Thermal paper (certain heavyweight) | AD659 | Korea | Terminated |
| Threaded tube and pipe cast fittings of malleable cast iron | AD585 | China | Terminated |
| Threaded tube and pipe cast fittings of malleable cast iron | AD585 | Thailand | Terminated |
| Trichloroisocyanuric acid | AD480 | China | Terminated |
| Tube and pipe fittings of iron or steel | AD323 | China (extended to Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Philippines) | Terminated |
| Tube and pipe fittings of iron or steel | AD442 | Korea | Terminated |
| Tube and pipe fittings of iron or steel | AD442 | Malaysia | Terminated |
| Tube and pipe fittings of iron or steel | AD579 | Russia | Terminated |
| Tube and pipe fittings of iron or steel | AD579 | Turkey | Terminated |
| Tubes and pipes of ductile cast iron | AD616 | India | Terminated |
| Tubes and pipes of ductile cast iron | AS618 | India | Terminated |
| Tungsten carbide | AD238 | China | Terminated |
| Tungsten electrodes | AD502 | China | Terminated |
| Tyres | AD640 | China | Maintained |
| Tyres | AS641 | China | Maintained |
| Urea Ammonium Nitrate | AD649 | Russia, Trinidad, Tobago, USA | Terminated |
| Welded tubes and pipes of iron or non-alloy steel | AD523 | Belarus | Maintained* |
| Welded tubes and pipes of iron or non-alloy steel | AD523 | China | Maintained* |
| Welded tubes and pipes of iron or non-alloy steel | AD523 | Russia | Maintained* |
| Wire rod | AD530 | China | Maintained |
Updates to this page
Published 6 February 2020Last updated 16 December 2020 + show all updates
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Updated the section on recent updates to measures being maintained or terminated.
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Updated as the EU imposed an anti-dumping measure on Steel Road Wheels (AD652). DIT has reassessed this measure and determined that this measure should not be maintained, as it no longer meets the criteria of the Call for Evidence.
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Updated the details on steel safeguard measures.
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First published.