Scottish MEP David Martin has warned the UK government that that in any new trade agreements, Britain must retain new EU laws designed to protect industries from the dumping of cheap imports which will threaten UK jobs.

Mr Martin is a is a long-time member of the European Parliament’s international trade committee and the Socialists and Democrats Group spokesperson on the protection against dumped imports legislation.

Speaking this week as the committee backed a draft deal on the modernisation of the EU’s trade defences Mr Martin said:

“The deals struck between the European Parliament and national governments on the protection against dumped imports are better than what we presently have in place.

“These are a big step forward towards a more progressive trade policy – for the first time, social and environmental standards will be taken into consideration when determining if dumping has taken place.

“I believe EU trade defence rules need to go further and forcefully tackle the dumping of cheap steel from China and others, but nevertheless, with these new rules, the EU will be better prepared to fight unfair trading practices.

“It is vital that post Brexit the UK does not water down these new measures. It is very worrying that the UK voted against the deal in the European Council. Thousands of jobs in the steel industry and elsewhere in the UK could then be at serious risk.”