The UK trade remedies investigations process
How the UK’s Trade Remedies Authority investigates whether trade remedy measures are needed to counteract unfair import practices.
Documents
Details
This guidance explains how the UK’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) investigates possible cases of dumped and subsidised imports and unforeseen surges in imports (known as safeguards investigations).
We can then determine whether a new trade remedy measure is needed to protect UK industries. We are also carrying out transition reviews into current EU trade remedy measures which are relevant to UK industries.
This guidance explains our investigations process, how to apply to us to open a new investigation and how we assess injury to UK industries from imports. You can also find out how we will apply the Economic Interest Test which assesses whether a new trade remedy measure is in the UK’s economic interest.
You can create an account and register your interest in UK trade remedy investigations and reviews on the Trade Remedies Service. You can also submit an application for a new investigation and view active cases and reviews on our public file.
This is the first version of our operational guidance and we actively encourage feedback from interested groups and individuals. You can email us with any comments or questions at contact@traderemedies.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
Published 6 February 2020Last updated 22 November 2024 + show all updates
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We have updated the guidance on our Pre-Application Office to ensure it reflects the latest information on the PAO's services.
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Updates made to "Applying for a trade remedies investigation"
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'How we carry out a dumping investigation' has been updated and replaced by 'Determining dumping and anti-dumping duties'
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New guidance added: Determining injury and causation in dumping and subsidy investigations, introduction to trade remedies, repayment investigation, and determining subsidies and countervailing duties. Updated guidance on applying the economic interest test, transition reviews into anti-dumping and countervailing measures, and the TRA’s investigation process.
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Updated guidance on transition reviews into anti-dumping and countervailing measures.
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Deleted how we handle requests for reconsiderations of our decisions and replaced with reconsiderations of our determinations or recommendations.
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Replaced how we carry out exemption reviews on trade remedy measures guidance with new guidance on exemption reviews. Deleted the following guidance: circumvention reviews and absorption review, how we carry out scope reviews into existing trade measures, new exporter reviews, interim reviews, and how we carry out expiry reviews. Reviews of anti-dumping and countervailing measures replaces the guidance documents above.
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Information in the TRA's investigation process has been added and removed from the Reassessment section.
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The wording for mixed duty in the TRA investigation process document has been removed and replaced. There has also been information added about compound duty.
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Updated guidance on suspension of trade remedies.
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Updated guidance on transition reviews into anti-dumping and countervailing measures.
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I have changed a section in the the Determining Safeguard Measures guidance under the heading Length of a safeguard measure. Previous version: There is also a lower limit to the period of time that must elapse between safeguard remedies – a new remedy cannot be applied until at least two years and one day after the last one expired, regardless of the length of time the previous remedy covered. New Version: The minimum period of time that must elapse between safeguard remedies is two years and one day after the last one expired, regardless of the length of time the previous remedy covered. For example, even if a safeguard measure was in place for only 6 months, another safeguard measure cannot be applied until two years and one day have passed.
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Attachment order changed
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Added updated guidance on the conduct of safeguard reviews.
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Updated guidance on determining safeguard measures.
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Updated guidance on applying the economic interest test
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Information has been added that the guidance on how we carry out a safeguards investigation is being updated following changes to the Safeguard Regulations.
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Changes made to reflect updated guidance on the TRA's investigation process, which now includes guidance on meetings, hearings and visits and how measures fit into our dumping and subsidy investigation process.
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The definition of 'target price' has been amended slightly to make it clearer.
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Additional content on dumping investigations has been added.
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The guidance on new exporter reviews has been updated.
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A new section of guidance has been added on expiry reviews.
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Section of guidance on suspension reviews added.
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New operational guidance on trade remedy exemption reviews.
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New attachment added - Interim Reviews
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We have updated our explanation on how to create non-confidential summaries of documents you submit to the Trade Remedies Authority, to make the process clearer and easier to follow.
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Deletion of interim reviews
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New attachment on Interim Reviews
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Changing use of capitalisation in the header
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New attachments added - New Exporter Review, How we carry out scope reviews into existing trade measures and Absorption & Circumvention Reviews.
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Additional attachment on transition review of EU steel safeguard measures
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Edited the attachment 'How we carry out a subsidy investigation' - minor factual updates and clarifications to reflect policy and legal concerns.
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Minor edits to existing attachments. Added attachments: How to make an application for a trade remedies investigation; How measures fit into our dumping and subsidy investigation process Meetings, hearings and visits; The TRID Pre-Application Office; How we handle requests for reconsiderations of our decisions
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First published.