Government accepts TRA recommendation on ironing boards
Government accepts TRA recommendation to impose countervailing measures on imports of Ironing Boards from Turkey
The Government has today (7 September 2023) agreed with the TRA’s recommendation that countervailing measures on imports from Ironing Boards from Turkey be imposed.
Countervailing measures are put in place to offset imports being sold at unfair prices due to government subsidies in their country of origin.
The TRA investigated these imports in response to a request from a UK manufacturer to assess whether ironing boards imported from Turkey are subsidised and are therefore being sold in the UK at unfairly low prices. This is the second new investigation (and the first dealing with subsidies) that the TRA has taken on after being set up as part of the UK’s international trade arrangements following EU exit.
The period of investigation was 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, while the injury period was 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2021.
A provisional measure was in force from 26 May 2023 until the 7 September 2023, at a rate of 4.42% after it was determined that subsidised ironing boards imported into the UK from Turkey and the subsidisation of these goods had caused injury to the UK ironing boards industry. The provisional measures were temporary and put in place for up to four months or until the final measure was put in place.
The final measure is a countervailing amount of 4.02%.
Notes to editors:
- The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
- UK industries concerned about imports have been able to submit applications for a new trade remedy measure since January 2021. These applications are considered by the TRA to see if there are grounds for an investigation.
- Countervailing measures are one of three trade policy tools to counter imports which are causing or threatening injury to domestic industry, the other two being anti-dumping and safeguard measures. Countervailing measures address imported goods which are being subsidised by foreign governments.
- This is the second new case (not a transition review) that the TRA has opened and follows our first new investigation into potential dumping of Aluminium Extrusions that opened in June 2021 and is still under investigation.