TRA to review anti-dumping measures on aluminium road wheels

Press release

The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has today initiated a transition review into an anti-dumping measure on aluminium road wheels, a measure that was transitioned following the UK’s exit from the EU, to determine if the measure is fit for purpose in the UK.

The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) will review imports of aluminium road wheels from the People’s Republic of China and will consider whether duties are needed to offset dumping in the UK and whether UK industry would be injured if the measure was no longer applied.

The wheels to be investigated during this review are used on motor vehicles and are often referred to as ‘alloy wheels’ as they are made from an alloy of mainly aluminium with a small amount of other metals or silicone added for durability. These wheels are sold in the UK to both the vehicle manufacturers and as aftermarket products to the general consumer.

The investigation will cover the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. In order to assess injury, the TRA will examine the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2021.

View further information on our current transition reviews, including the notice of initiation for aluminium road wheels

Aluminium road wheels are most commonly manufactured by either forging or casting. Forged wheels are usually more expensive than cast wheels but provide a better strength to weight ratio and as a result are more commonly used in high performance and off-road vehicles.
Anti-dumping duties allow a country or union to take action against goods sold at less than their normal value, defined as the price for ‘like goods’ sold in the exporter’s home market.
The measures are one of the three types of trade remedies – along with countervailing measures against countervailable subsidies and safeguard measures which address sudden, unforeseen floods of imports – that are allowed by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The TRA is the UK body that investigates whether trade remedy measures are needed to counter unfair import practices and unforeseen surges of imports.
Trade remedy investigations were carried out by the EU Commission on the UK’s behalf until the UK left the EU. Forty-three EU trade remedy measures of interest to UK producers were carried across into UK law when the UK left the EU and the TRA is currently reviewing each one to assess whether it is suitable for UK needs.

Published 7 October 2021

Armed Forces re-deploy to support Welsh Ambulance Service this autumn

The support from the UK Government is being provided through a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request. The task will help to ease pressures resulting from the pandemic and ensure the ambulance trust can continue to provide their essential service, including attending life-threatening calls quickly.

Defence personnel will augment the ambulance service with non-emergency drivers who will not operate under blue light conditions. They will attend lower priority calls to help to free up WAST resources for emergency calls where there is an immediate risk to life, such as cardiac arrests.

Personnel are deploying to regions across Wales and are from across the three services.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

“I am proud of the tireless work of all our service personnel during this pandemic. They continue to provide important support, working alongside our dedicated emergency services across the UK.

“The deployment of 110 personnel to support the ambulance service will ensure WAST can continue to deliver their life-saving services.”

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said:

“Once again the UK’s armed forces are playing a key role in the fight against Covid-19 by supporting the critical work of the Welsh Ambulance Service. I am hugely grateful for their commitment and expertise.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to all those who have worked incredibly hard to ensure our public services deliver for the people of Wales throughout the pandemic.”

Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service Jason Killens said:

“We’re proud and grateful to be working alongside the military once again, who did a superb job of assisting us on two occasions previously last year.

“The pandemic has presented a challenge like no other, but the last couple of months in particular have meant significant and sustained pressures on our ambulance service, including high levels of demand and an increase in Covid-19 related activity.

“Winter is our busiest time, and having military colleagues on board once more will bolster our capacity and put us in the best possible position to provide a safe service to the people of Wales.”

In addition to drivers, Defence will provide 3 personnel to support planning at NHS Wales. This is the third deployment of the Armed Forces to support WAST since the pandemic began in March 2020. 68 personnel deployed in April 2020 and 120 personnel augmented dedicated Welsh Ambulance Service staff in December 2020, including Defence medics.

Defence also supported the vaccine rollout in Wales earlier this year and previously deployed during the pandemic to provide specialist planning advice, deliver PPE and support the community testing programme in Merthyr Tydfil.

Sex offender has sentence increased

News story

A sex offender has had his sentence increased following intervention by the then Solicitor General, The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP.

A sex offender has had his sentence increased following intervention by the then Solicitor General, The Rt Hon Lucy Frazer QC MP.

In 2018, Thomas Mulligan, now 62, was in possession of a significant quantity of indecent imagery. While out on bail for this crime, in 2019 Mulligan committed a series of further offences where he communicated with children online. He used various aliases pretended to be a 13 or 14 year old to trick his victims into sending photos and engaging in sexual communications. When police officers attended his home, they found a number of images on his laptop including extreme pornographic images.

Mulligan pleaded guilty to 21 counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, two counts of causing a child to watch a sexual act, two counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity, three counts of making an indecent image of a child, three counts of making an indecent image and one count of possession of extreme images. On 21 July Mulligan was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years at Inner London Crown Court. He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and rehabilitation activity. At a slip rule hearing on 31 August this was increased to 2 years’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

Following a referral to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme by the Solicitor General, on 7 October the Court found the sentence to be unduly lenient and increased it to 6 years’ imprisonment. After the hearing at the Court of Appeal, the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP, said:

“The crimes of Mulligan were exhaustive in their nature and by the number of victims who will have been impacted by his egregious actions. He manipulated and abused young vulnerable children. It is right for the sentence to reflect the crime and I am pleased with the Court of Appeal’s decision today to increase his sentence.”

Published 7 October 2021

Civil news: removal of eligibility calculator tool

News story

We are withdrawing the calculator tool used by civil providers to check client financial eligibility for legal aid.

Image of calculator, pen and numbered table

Providers wishing to check client financial eligibility for legal aid are asked to use the resources on our means testing page on GOV.UK.

The civil legal aid calculator used to assist with these calculations is no longer available. Alternative resources are available to help providers.

Why is this happening now?

The calculator is a legacy tool which can no longer be updated when there are eligibility changes. The alternative resources on the means testing page provide all the information you need to calculate financial eligibility.

How do clients check eligibility?

Clients will continue to have access to the legal aid checker set up for members of the public to use.

The civil legal aid calculator was never designed for client use. It was a tool specifically for legal aid providers carrying out civil work.

Further information

Civil legal aid: means testing – resources for providers

Legal aid checker – external tool for members of the public to check their eligibility

Published 7 October 2021

Fourth Business and Human Rights Week

It will include a series of online events that will address the promotion of human rights and their link to improve the business environment; with the support of private sector, civil society and other key stakeholders involved in fostering prosperity in Guatemala.

The webinars will focus on generating discussions around current relevant topics: climate change, fostering inclusion policies and efforts to promote transparency and fighting corruption from the business sector.

As the conference of parties COP26 approaches, it is important to reflect upon the linkages between climate change, business and human rights. During this session, the experts will explain the importance of recent judicial environmental sentences, the impact of business operations and the importance of the participation of the private sector in tackling climate change.

For a second occasion, the impact of corruption and the lack of transparency in human rights will be discussed. The discussion will explore proactive ways in which business can respond to corrupt practices and will portrait an example of a regional organization sharing its experience on improving transparency.

The responsibility that business has in understanding and approaching the way their actions, omissions and commercial affairs can impact people will be discussed. It will focus on how businesses can understand the vulnerabilities that LGBT+ people can experience, in order to better identify risks.

Through these events, the UK seeks to put relevant topics in the business and human rights agenda in Guatemala. The importance dialogue and concrete efforts from different sectors to foster prosperity and respecting human rights.

Nick Whittingham, British Ambassador in Guatemala, said:

Currently a lot is expected from private business from civil society and the government. They must be held accountable for actions that their operations have in people, and this is what we want to share with businesses in Guatemala.

To follow the activities of the fourth Business and Human Rights Week in Guatemala please join our social media channels in Facebook and Twitter.