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Press Release

EU Urged Not To Snuff Out Free Trade Promise


7 April 2009

Just days after the G20 agreement to name and shame countries that erect new protectionist barriers, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) warns the European Union (EU) already risks reneging on the free trade commitment.

The EU's Antidumping Committee meets today (Tuesday) to vote on whether to impose five year duties on candles. The BRC estimates that, if the vote gives the green light for the duties, it could add over 50 per cent to the dockside price of candles.

The tariffs would be a slap in the face for hard-pressed consumers – pushing up prices at time when they can least afford it. By contrast it would benefit a handful of continental companies who have pushed for this move in order to boost their own market share.

The EU has previously imposed import duties on other products including low energy light bulbs, shoes and screws. This has pushed up the shop prices of these goods and so penalised the shoppers that the EU should be protecting.

The BRC is calling for all these duties to be removed immediately.

Alisdair Gray, BRC Brussels Director, said: "The ink's barely dry on the G20's commitment to name and shame those that erect new trade barriers and the EU already risks becoming the first recipient of this process.

"A vote for imposing duties on candles, is a vote for protectionism. It will benefit a handful of European producers, at the expense of hard-pressed retailers and retailers.

"Candles may not be the major EU trade issue, but this follows a string of other new import duties on products, such as leather footwear and low energy lightbulbs.

"There is no justification for customers being forced to pay more. These duties should be scrapped immediately.

"Protectionism can never be a long term answer for European manufacturers. In fact it makes it harder for EU producers to gain access to overseas markets. EU Trade Commission Ashton must take a firmer stand to promote free trade."



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