Jude Kirton-Darling (S&D). – Mr President, a year ago, steel workers were marching in the rain in Brussels to protest the dumping of cheap steel and calling for China to be denied market economy status, fearing thousands more job losses across Europe. Labour MEPs have long pushed for action and the EU has now delivered, and that is very welcome. But what a contrast to the attitude of our Tory Government. They continue to drag their feet on granting workers and industries the protection that they need against dumping in the EU and through weak proposals on post-Brexit trade remedies. Here, for the first time ever in trade defence rules, social and environmental criteria will also now be assessed, recognising the effect of unfair trade practices on workers and the environment. We have a much more progressive alternative before us, but this is just one part of the EU’s endeavour to strengthen its trade defences, and we now need a deal to modernise those vital trade defence instruments overall if we are really to save our European steel.