Initial findings recommend Turkish rainbow trout tariffs be kept

News Desk: TRA initial findings recommend tariffs on imports of rainbow trout from Turkey be extended for five years.

The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has today (Friday 25 June) published its Statement of Essential Facts, setting out initial findings on UK countervailing measures which currently apply to certain rainbow trout exported to the UK from Turkey.

Countervailing measures are placed on imported goods that are being subsidised by foreign governments and which might injure the UK market. They are part of 43 measures transitioned to the UK following its withdrawal from the EU.

The TRA’s report recommends the countervailing measures in this case, which have been transitioned into UK law from the EU system, be extended for five years, extending protections to UK rainbow trout farms which could otherwise be damaged by subsidised imports from Turkey.

The TRA’s Chief Executive Officer Oliver Griffiths said:

Our job as the TRA is to carry out detailed and impartial investigations of allegations of unfair international trade practices. Our provisional conclusion published today is that tariffs are needed to prevent British rainbow trout producers from being undercut by subsidised Turkish products.

As part of its assessment, the TRA identified that many Turkish subsidy programmes are still in place and are expected to continue. Whilst there are few imports from Turkey at present, there was clear evidence from Turkish producers that they intended to import if the measures were revoked. The TRA’s initial findings therefore recommend that tariffs on these imports be extended for five years.

Concentrated production sites for rainbow trout can be found in Northern Ireland, in north and south England, and in Scotland. Following today’s publication, there will be a 30-day period in which interested parties can comment on the report. The TRA will then consider and produce a Final Recommendation, which will be sent to the Secretary of State for International Trade who will make the final decision on whether to uphold the TRA’s recommendation.