The Department for International Trade (DIT) is working on a digital system for trade remedies – the process to deal with complaints of unfair trading practices.
It comes as one of the measures to replace existing EU processes, with the tool to be operated by a new UK Trade Remedies Authority.
DIT has indicated that the system is in its beta stage and expected to go live by the end of this financial year – when the UK is scheduled to leave the EU – and has put out a procurement notice for a team to further development the product.
The new product will have two prime functions: as a case management tool for trade remedies investigators; and a public facing service through which businesses can apply for new investigations.
It will also use the GOV.UK Notify platform for communications with external users.
Further work
DIT said following the ‘go live’ it wants a development team to: look at unmet user needs; improve the data tracking and workflow; research and develop changes in functions; run further user research; provide support for officials adding content; and ultimately hand over to an internal team within the Trade Remedies Authority.
The development of the system reflects the need for a new process for investigating complaints of unfair trading practices and unforeseen surges in imports.
DIT has said it is legislating for the full suite of tools permitted under the World Trade Organisation in order to tackle injury to UK industry caused by these practices. It has also indicated that it expects the new authority to be set up in time for the UK leaving the EU.
Image from iStock, donskarpo
