The Trade Remedies Authority has today (19 August 2022) proposed that two China-based electrical bicycle and tricycle manufacturers be given new exporter status which allows them to pay a lower anti-dumping import tariff rate to export their products to the UK. They would otherwise pay the much higher rate for exporters who did not cooperate with the original trade remedy investigation.

The UK e-bike market was worth £280 million in sales in 2020 and this is expected to triple by 2024. The change in tariff rate would help meet demand in this growing market by making it possible for these new exporters to export to the UK and by providing a wider range of options to UK consumers.

The proposal is contained in a Statement of Essential Facts, which is now open for comment by interested parties. The TRA will consider any comments before making a final recommendation to the Secretary of State later this year.

The TRA assesses applications for new investigations and reviews and conducts them rigorously, fairly and consistently with statutory guidance and timescales.

The TRA opened a new exporter review into electric bicycles from China in June, following a request from two exporters. As they are new to the market, the two firms currently pay the same anti-dumping tariff rate as exporters who did not cooperate with the original EU anti-dumping measure in 2019.

New exporter reviews allow new exporters to enter the UK market at a fair rate, rather than being penalised for not taking part in the original investigation. In this case, the TRA is recommending that:

• the applicants are new exporters;
• they should pay a non-sampled, co-operating overseas exporter anti-dumping amount of 16.2%, rather than the 62.1% they currently have to pay;
• the new rate should be backdated to the initiation of the review on 23 June 2022.

The period of investigation for this review was 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022.

The applicants for the review were Jinhua Otmar Technology Co Limited, PRC and Jinhua Seno Technology Co Limited, PRC.

To be considered a new exporter, an applicant must not have exported the reviewed goods to the EU during the period of investigation on which the current measure is based.

The TRA was satisfied that the applicants were incorporated after the EU period of investigation expiry date of 30 September 2017, and therefore did not export the goods to the EU during the period on which the current measure is based.

• The Trade Remedies Authority is the UK body that investigates whether new trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports. 
• The TRA is an arm’s length body of the Department of International Trade (DIT) launched on 1 June 2021. Before its launch, it operated as the Trade Remedies Investigations Directorate (TRID) of DIT. 
• Anti-dumping remedies address imported goods which are being dumped in the UK at prices below what they would be sold for in their home country.  

The plaque has been installed at Worbarrow Bay, which is part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)-managed military training estate. The land provided a vital training area for the commando unit, which carried out the ‘splinter’ operation, known as Operation Cauldron, to immobilise German heavy artillery that posed a threat to the beach landing areas in France during WW2.

Following specialist training in Scotland, 4 Commando returned to Worbarrow to carry out crucial cliff scaling exercises in preparation for their task. On 19 August 1942, the commandos launched their raid alongside a Canadian unit, which came ashore under fire from mortars and machine guns. There were 5,000 casualties that day.

There is already a commemorative plaque at West Bay to remember the Canadian troops involved, but up until now, there has been no memorial to acknowledge the role of 4 Commando. Further to the memorial on the Defence Training Estate, a duplicate memorial, unveiled on the same day, will sit in the Weymouth memorial garden, which is used for local remembrance services.

DIO Regional Commander Colonel Tim Jalland, who unveiled the Worbarrow Bay memorial, said:

These Ranges, one of only two sites available for Armoured Fighting Vehicle Fire and Movement Exercises, remain one of the busiest Range complexes in the UK. In addition to their operational importance, the Ranges are located in a beautiful, historically significant and environmentally diverse part of the landscape, which the MOD takes pride in sustaining and maintaining for the Armed Forces and general public alike.

Naval historian and former Chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Residents Association, Alvin Hopper, is the inspiration behind the plaque, which he said will serve as an important reminder of the coastline’s history as well as acknowledge the vital role played by the unit.

Mr Hopper said:

We should educate the younger people about their history. They don’t get taught this at school, there’s a lot that’s missed out, especially the local history. Lots of visitors to the area will now be aware of the history. Hopefully, when they see the plaque, they will go and look it up. With the use of modern-day technology, they can get on-the-spot information.

In his naval role, Mr Hopper served in the mine warfare service, which became the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, and he knows the Dorset coastline very well. He added that military training areas are as vital for troops today as they were then.

He said:

To have somewhere to train is vitally important. These dedicated training areas give our forces the edge, somewhere to hone their skills. Worbarrow Bay was crucial for 4 Commando because the terrain almost identically matched the terrain they would be facing on the raid.

The duplicate memorial plaque in Weymouth was unveiled by the Mayor of Weymouth, Councillor Ann Weaving and Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell.

The Lulworth Ranges have provided armoured and dismounted live fire and manoeuvre training facilities for the UK Armed Forces since WW1. The land is part of the Defence Training Estate, which covers around one per cent of land in the UK and plays a vital role in preparing UK and visiting troops for operations across the globe. The UK training area covers 157,000 hectares and includes 9,000 buildings, 21m trees, 3,500km of tracks and more than 70 Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

The estate supports training scenarios that include practising fighting in built-up areas, firing artillery, amphibious landings and assaults, driving tanks and firing from naval vessels and aircraft.