Why Britain is extending controversial tariffs on steel
The government admits the measures break international trade rules
ON JUNE 29TH Britain’s trade minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, announced that the government would be extending tariffs on five categories of steel—and breaking international trade rules. The move has support from the opposition Labour party, whose main criticism of Ms Trevelyan was that she had not announced the extension sooner. But it has generated controversy elsewhere. After he was asked to advise on the matter, on June 15th Christopher Geidt resigned from his position as the ethics adviser to the prime minister, Boris Johnson. Lord Geidt said that he had been put in an “impossible and odious position”. Why is the government extending the tariffs?
This article appeared in the The Economist explains section of the print edition under the headline “Why Britain is extending controversial tariffs on steel”
From the July 2nd 2022 edition
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