Wales minister calls for tougher steel trade defenses

LIVERPOOL, England — Wales Secretary Stephen Kinnock is pushing for tougher steel trade defenses amid concerns that British producers are being undercut by cheap imports. Speaking at The POLITICO Pub at Labour Party conference on Monday, Kinnock said he is in discussions with Trade Minister Anas Sarwar about strengthening protections for the steel industry, arguing that the government needs to act to ensure domestic producers are competing on a level playing field. His comments came after Tata Steel’s Llanwern plant in Newport, South Wales, saw its production capacity slashed to around 50% as it struggles to compete against a glut of cheaper, foreign galvanized steel imports.