Bloomberg reported that the UK government said that it will consult with other countries at the World Trade Organization on its plan to extend steel tariffs, after Prime Minister Mr Boris Johnson said it was reasonable to use them to protect Britain’s domestic industry. Mr Johnson’s spokesman Mr Jamie Davies told reporters, ahead of 30 June deadline when some of the tariffs will expire, and said “No decision has yet been taken. The decision will balance our international obligations and the national interest. Continuation of the steel tariffs last year had widespread party and industry support. We will consult with WTO members this week.”Mr Johnson told reporters at the Group of Seven summit in Germany on Sunday “We need British steel to be provided with much cheaper energy and cheap electricity for its blast furnaces. But until we can fix that, I think it is reasonable for UK steel to have the same protections that other European, absolutely every other European steel economy does. The difficulty was in addressing the issue while remaining within WTO obligations. But these are tough choices that you have to make.”UK has proposed to extend safeguard tariffs and quotas on certain steel products for a further two years, after International Trade Secretary Ms Anne-Marie Trevelyan said that ending them may cause serious injury to British producers. On Sunday, Johnson said UK steel ought to enjoy the same protections as in other European economies.
Bloomberg reported that the UK government said that it will consult with other countries at the World Trade Organization on its plan to extend steel tariffs, after Prime Minister Mr Boris Johnson said it was reasonable to use them to protect Britain’s domestic industry. Mr Johnson’s spokesman Mr Jamie Davies told reporters, ahead of 30 June deadline when some of the tariffs will expire, and said “No decision has yet been taken. The decision will balance our international obligations and the national interest. Continuation of the steel tariffs last year had widespread party and industry support. We will consult with WTO members this week.”Mr Johnson told reporters at the Group of Seven summit in Germany on Sunday “We need British steel to be provided with much cheaper energy and cheap electricity for its blast furnaces. But until we can fix that, I think it is reasonable for UK steel to have the same protections that other European, absolutely every other European steel economy does. The difficulty was in addressing the issue while remaining within WTO obligations. But these are tough choices that you have to make.”UK has proposed to extend safeguard tariffs and quotas on certain steel products for a further two years, after International Trade Secretary Ms Anne-Marie Trevelyan said that ending them may cause serious injury to British producers. On Sunday, Johnson said UK steel ought to enjoy the same protections as in other European economies.
