Quote:
Originally Posted by Taf
EU tariff rules have allowed the flooding of markets with cheaper, inferior quality, Chinese steel. In fact not just allowed, but positively welcomed.
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Yes that does seem to be rather ironic, especially now.
If there is a significant market for better quality steel made in the UK then maybe HMG could go about specifying its use for govt. contracts etc. especially where quality and longevity would have additional benefits than using cheaper steel. However, forcing private companies to use an over-specified product where a cheaper alternative would clearly suffice simply means the additional costs are just passed on to someone else right down to the guy in the street who hasn't had a decent pay rise for years but winds up paying more in taxes, prices etc.
It's interesting to note how nobody, so far as I can see, seems to be objecting to cheap oil flooding the UK market because they rather like petrol being 2/3 or the price it was not too long ago. Few tears for all the North Sea oil workers and the businesses which depend on them...