Steelmaking companies in the UK are pressing the Government to ease the crisis in their industry by tackling “unfair dumping” of products.
Trade body UK Steel said Business Secretary Sajid Javid should spearhead immediate European action on anti-dumping measures when the issue is discussed at a meeting of the EU’s Competitiveness Council today.
Thousands of job losses have been announced in recent weeks, with firms blaming high energy costs and business rates as well as cheap Chinese imports.
UK Steel said the latest data showed that Chinese dumping of Rebar (reinforcing steel) is set to account for more than half the UK market this year.
The group is calling for the EU to follow the example of the United States where action on dumping takes weeks.
In contrast, in the EU cases can take many months to be accepted and initiated, and then a further nine months before even a provisional decision is taken, said UK Steel.
Director Gareth Stace said: “The US and other countries have already moved to prevent cheap Chinese imports distorting their markets and now the EU must do the same and, do so quickly.
“The UK must seize the moment and encourage a rapid response in Brussels if we’re to prevent large scale problems for steel makers spreading in Britain and across the continent.”
A march is to be held through Scunthorpe tomorrow to show support for hundreds of steelworkers facing redundancy.
The move is aimed at showing solidarity with the 900 workers at the Tata steel plant who face redundancy.
Martin Foster Unite convenor at the Scunthorpe steel works said: “Steel runs through the veins of Scunthorpe and is the lifeblood of the local economy. We desperately need support from local and central government on business rates and help with high energy costs.
“Action on this and the dumping of cheap Chinese steel, combined with cast iron government guarantees to use British steel on infrastructure projects will give the industry and Scunthorpe a fighting chance.”
Unite national officer Harish Patel added: “The clock is ticking for the government to take action to save our steel. Communities like Scunthorpe with a proud tradition of steelmaking and manufacturing risk seeing good quality jobs being lost forever because of minsters’ inaction.
“Business leaders, unions, MPs and the public all want robust action in the UK to save our steel. It is time for the government to act and develop an industrial strategy which secures the future of steel and manufacturing in the UK.”
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