House of Lords inquiry into EU trade policy

The submission focuses on European trade policy from a UK manufacturing perspective, but with specific reference where relevant to the steel industry.

EEF broadly supports current policy: maintaining open markets, subject to WTO disciplines, promotes economic growth.  It is therefore essential that the WTO as an institution is not undermined.

We are however concerned at both:

• the USA's attempts in the Doha negotiations to undo recent liberalising decisions by the WTO dispute settlement body; and
• continuing attempts in Brussels unilaterally to weaken the EU's trade defence mechanisms in advance of a multilateral agreement.

The submission is available for download in PDF format.