This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35951108

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Steel crisis: UK government dismisses China steel tariff fears Steel crisis: UK government dismisses China steel tariff fears
(35 minutes later)
The government has played down the impact on the British steel industry of new Chinese import tariffs. The government has played down the impact on the UK steel industry of new Chinese import tariffs of up to 46.3%.
China is to impose the tariffs - taxes on imported products - of up to 46.3% on some specialist steel from the EU. China is to impose the levy on imports of some specialist, high-tech steel from the EU, South Korea, and Japan.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said the duties were "clearly unwelcome", but were "not expected to have much impact". It comes after Tata Steel announced it was selling its loss-making UK plants, putting thousands of jobs at risk.
Tata Steel, which is to sell its UK factories, said it was concerned about the wider impact on the market. The duties were "unwelcome", but "not expected to have much impact", the government said - but Tata said it was worried about the wider market effect.
The company - and UK government - has previously cited cheap steel imports from China as one of the reasons its UK business is under pressure. The company - and UK government - has previously cited cheap steel imports from China as one of the reasons the industry is under pressure.
The Chinese ministry of commerce has said imports of grain-oriented flat-rolled electrical steel - a type of high-tech steel made by Tata's Cogent subsidiary in Newport - will be charged duties ranging from 14.5% to 46.3%.The Chinese ministry of commerce has said imports of grain-oriented flat-rolled electrical steel - a type of high-tech steel made by Tata's Cogent subsidiary in Newport - will be charged duties ranging from 14.5% to 46.3%.
The US has imposed tariffs of 266% on Chinese steel but Britain blocked efforts at EU level to impose similarly high emergency tariffs.The US has imposed tariffs of 266% on Chinese steel but Britain blocked efforts at EU level to impose similarly high emergency tariffs.
A government spokesman said the UK had been at the forefront of pressing for European action on unfair steel "dumping" - selling steel very cheaply and regularly at a loss - but it was important for tariffs to be set at the right level, based on clear evidence of unfair trade.A government spokesman said the UK had been at the forefront of pressing for European action on unfair steel "dumping" - selling steel very cheaply and regularly at a loss - but it was important for tariffs to be set at the right level, based on clear evidence of unfair trade.
"It is in no one's interests for there to be an escalation of protectionist tariffs," he added."It is in no one's interests for there to be an escalation of protectionist tariffs," he added.
Tata said the type of steel affected by the Chinese tariffs had not been exported "in recent times from our UK operations", but it was concerned about the knock on effect on other countries looking for alternative markets for their products.Tata said the type of steel affected by the Chinese tariffs had not been exported "in recent times from our UK operations", but it was concerned about the knock on effect on other countries looking for alternative markets for their products.
It also highlighted the "ongoing disparities between the high tariffs set by other countries and the low tariffs which continue to be set by the EU".It also highlighted the "ongoing disparities between the high tariffs set by other countries and the low tariffs which continue to be set by the EU".
Tata Steel UK: What are the options?Tata Steel UK: What are the options?
What's going wrong with Britain's steel industry?What's going wrong with Britain's steel industry?
What next for Tata Steel workers?What next for Tata Steel workers?
Earlier, Downing Street said Mr Cameron had raised his concerns about the steel crisis with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.Earlier, Downing Street said Mr Cameron had raised his concerns about the steel crisis with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.
Mr Cameron said they needed to work together to tackle "over-capacity".Mr Cameron said they needed to work together to tackle "over-capacity".
Commenting on the Tata situation, he said every effort was being made to save jobs after the company's decision sell its loss-making UK plants - but he warned there were "no guarantees of success".Commenting on the Tata situation, he said every effort was being made to save jobs after the company's decision sell its loss-making UK plants - but he warned there were "no guarantees of success".
Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson told the BBC the government had been "on the back foot", and should have changed procurement rules to ensure a role for British steel in big projects such as HS2.Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson told the BBC the government had been "on the back foot", and should have changed procurement rules to ensure a role for British steel in big projects such as HS2.
'A joke'
He said Business Secretary Sajid Javid seemed "harnessed to his ideology" and unable to see a role for temporary state intervention.He said Business Secretary Sajid Javid seemed "harnessed to his ideology" and unable to see a role for temporary state intervention.
Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood called the latest news about China imposing tariffs a "joke".Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood called the latest news about China imposing tariffs a "joke".
Analysis
BBC business correspondent Joe Lynam
In the early 2000s, China was soaking up all the world's steel and iron ore to build its new cities, and created numerous steel production facilities in their industrial towns. Soon they were making more in one factory in a year, for example, than the entire British steel industry.
But when their construction boom waned, they had too much steel. They couldn't sell it locally and had to dump it overseas at a cut price. And you cannot compete with dumped steel.
In the future, the UK wants to focus on the production of expensive, specialist steel - but that is the very stuff now facing tariffs of up to 46% in China.
The other difficulty for the UK is that it wants to be one of China's major trade partners in the future.
For example, the government wants the Chinese to pay for a third of the Hinkley Point nuclear power station in Somerset, which is under way but hasn't got the final green light yet.
But to get that long term relationship, the UK might need to look away from certain Chinese trade practices.
Tata's UK business - which directly employs 15,000 workers and supports thousands of others - includes plants in Port Talbot, Rotherham, Corby and Shotton.Tata's UK business - which directly employs 15,000 workers and supports thousands of others - includes plants in Port Talbot, Rotherham, Corby and Shotton.
Steel production makes up 1% of Britain's manufacturing output and 0.1% of the country's economic output.Steel production makes up 1% of Britain's manufacturing output and 0.1% of the country's economic output.
Do you work at the Port Talbot steel plant? How will the plans to sell it affect you and your family? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.Do you work at the Port Talbot steel plant? How will the plans to sell it affect you and your family? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or use the form belowOr use the form below