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Safeguard Measures on Steel Imports Decisions have been made by the International Trade Secretary on the continued application of safeguard measures on imports of steel plus also on tariff rate quotas. If any of this impacts your business and your trading possibilities, please contact us using internationaltrade@cambscci.co.uk and we will ensure that your concerns are raised with the British Chamber of Commerce Trade Policy team. The Secretary of State has decided to apply the safeguard measures on the following categories of steel imports until the end of June 2024: 1 - Non-alloy and other alloy hot-rolled sheet and strip 2 - Non-alloy and other alloy cold-rolled sheet 4 - Metallic coated sheet 5 - Organic coated sheet 13 - Rebar 19 - Railway material 20 - Gas pipe 21 - Hollow section 25 - Large welded tube 26 - Other welded tube The safeguard measures are also being applied to the following categories of steel imports until the end of June 2024: 6 - Tin mill products 7 - Non-alloy and other alloy quarto plates 12 - Merchant bars and light sections 16 - Non-alloy and other alloy wire rod 17 - Angles, shapes, and sections of iron or non-alloy steel For category 12a the Secretary of State is increasing the tariff rate quota by 126,136 tonnes in order to assist importers and downstream users of steel.
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Uncertainty remains on future of standards marking system The BCC has welcomed the announcement of four new easements on conformity assessment markings.
whereas those from the rest of the world could not, beyond the end of 2025.
Responding to the planned policy changes, Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said: “It’s good news that the UK Government has listened to business in providing these new easements to support cashflow and costs in these difficult economic times. There will be relief on the pragmatic solution reached on spare parts and repairs.
“There is some way to go before businesses will have complete assurance about the operation of the new markings systems.”
“Usage of EU certificates will cut duplicate testing costs, which firms could have faced early next year to place goods on the market in Great Britain. Those companies, which have the resources to do so, will also have the flexibility of importing CE-marked goods before the end of the year and placing these on the market in Great Britain without subsequent relabelling.
The four measures are to: 1. Allow certificates issued by EU conformity assessment bodies before the end of 2022 to be used as the basis for subsequent UKCA marking certification 2. Permit existing imported goods (before January 2023) to be treated as being already placed on the GB market eliminating the need for relabelling of products 3. Clarify that imported spare parts which repair or replace goods already on the GB market meet the same requirements as the existing goods 4. Facilitate goods being able to have UKCA marking, and importer details added via a sticky label, or accompanying paperwork, until 31 December 2025.
“After the end of 2022 however, firms will face significant new cost pressures from the introduction of the new markings system. “Uncertainties also still exist in terms of what will happen to markings in Northern Ireland. The current arrangements also suggest that CE-only marked goods, brought over from Northern Ireland, could continue to be placed on the market in Great Britain, 8 connected
This written ministerial statement on the markings of industrial, construction, electrical and electronics will be subject to secondary legislation and updated guidance by the UK Government.
