Bashir: New steel jobs blow means EU must act

Today's announcement by Tata Steel of more than 1,000 job losses in the UK must result in action from the EU which is already overdue, says Furbisher Media client Amjad Bashir.

Mr Bashir, Conservative

MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, said the news would be a devastating blow for the communities concerned. He noted that Kay Koehler, chief executive of Tata's European operations, was calling on the European Commission to take swift and effective action, and added: "That is exactly what Conservative MEPs have been demanding for months.

"Tata are warning that failure to tackle the issue of cheap imports will threaten the whole European steel industry - and they are right.

"I hope the European Commission will now see the sense of this and come forward with robust anti-dumping measures that will enable our steel sector to compete on a level playing field."

"Steel in Britain faces potentially overwhelming pressure and it is up to the Commission to act. The way forward is simple but we must act promptly.

"Firstly we confirm dumping is taking place, secondly we introduce urgent measures such as anti-dumping duties to prevent unwarranted damage to our industry, thirdly we implement those measure rigorously."

Tackling illegal dumping is one of three priorities of the Conservative MEPs' campaign to support the UK steel industry. See http://bit.ly/1HpfarR