Trade remedies: the government’s proposals

Trade remedies are an important aspect of an independent customs regime, and involve a very significant tax burden on affected importers. The most important trade remedies that WTO rules permit are anti-dumping duties and countervailing measures (against subsidised exports). After Brexit, the UK government has proposed that the UK will operate its own regime for imposing trade remedies, involving a division of responsibilities between the secretary of state and a new independent Trade Remedies Authority, as well as the possibility of appeal. However, those proposals are dependent on the UK not remaining in a customs union with the EU.