Unite demands “level playing field” for British steel industry after Tory failure on EU tariffs

Unite has called on under-fire Sajid Javid to stop opposing higher EU tariffs on Chinese steel.

Andy Richards, secretary of Unite Wales, said the British steel industry needs a “level playing field”, as pressure mounts on the Government’s chaotic handling of the crisis at Port Talbot, where 5,500 jobs are under threat.

Unions and Labour MPs have attacked the Tories for taking a leading role in blocking EU efforts to increase tariffs on cheap Chinese imported steel at the same time as George Osborne tries to “woo” China’s political leaders.

Chinese steel is subsidised considerably by their Communist administration and then sold at a lower price globally.

Steelworkers have received only “tea and sympathy from afar with no real concrete solutions for the industrial crisis facing the nation”, Richards said today.

“We’ve been here before when the business secretary visited Redcar. Lots of noise and promises to deal with the symptoms of the steel crisis, rather than the causes as thousands of livelihoods went to wall because of government inaction.

“When he meets steelworkers, Sajid Javid needs to commit to ensuring British steel can compete on a level playing field by promising to drop his opposition to higher EU tariffs of cheap Chinese steel and honour the commitments to help with energy costs which were quietly watered down by George Osborne in his budget.

“But most of all he needs to signal his commitment to steel and manufacturing by promising to back British steel with a line of financial support to get it through these dark days. He needs to look workers in the eye, not just at  Port Talbot, but at sites across Tata Steel from Shotton and Llanwern, to Rotherham and Corby and say your government backs you. “

This follows Labour MP Stephen Kinnock outlining why the EU is crucial for supporting the steel industry in the UK. The MP for Aberavon, which includes Port Talbot, said the European Commission has been trying to tackle the steel crisis for years and instead Britons should turn their criticism to the Government who lobbied to grant China Market Economy Status – giving them more rights to trade across the EU.