John Baron MP: EU inaction risks steel industry jobs

MP says EU rules hinder support for strategic steel industry

As a member of the EU, control of our trade policy is vested in the European Commission. This means that the British Government is unable to apply measures to prevent other countries, such as China, from ‘dumping’ cheap steel imports. This dumping has badly affected our domestic steel industry, as it has to compete internationally with products often sold below cost-price. The European Commission has been investigating the dumping of Chinese steel since 2008, but has taken no meaningful action. Were we to leave the EU, we could apply our own measures without having to first find agreement from other EU members.

Meanwhile, EU laws against state aid hamper the British Government’s ability to help our steel industry. Estimates suggest EU-derived delays have so far cost our steel industry £6.2 million, and UK industry as a whole £41.1 million. Were we to leave the EU, the Government would gain the ability to take steps to secure the future of our steel industry.

John said,

“The EU is so slow and inflexible that, eight years on, it still has not taken action against Chinese steel dumping. Meanwhile, our domestic steel industry has been suffering the consequences.”

“Leaving the EU would allow us to take rapid action against trade dumping without having to wait for the EU’s bureaucracy to catch up, as well as freeing the Government to offer the necessary support. For a host of reasons, including strategic when it comes to our military, we must not lose our essential industrial base.”