THE European Union has stepped up the fight to stop foreign plastic manufacturers destroying hundreds of jobs in the UK.

Member states voted in favour of raising tariffs to stop illegal and unfair competition from abroad.

The measure was taken following concerns that firms in China, Pakistan and Australia making polyethylene terephthalate (Pet) - used to make transparent plastic drinking bottles - were selling products on the world market at prices lower than they cost to make.

The practice, known as dumping, is an attempt to force rival companies, such as DuPontSA on the Wilton site, Teesside, out of business.

Staff at DuPontSA were anxiously awaiting the outcome of the vote.

The majority of members voted in favour of placing provisional duties on the imports.

The tariff, described by North-East MEP Stephen Hughes as welcome news, will be more of a warning than a punishment.

The EU will monitor the situation for the next six months and has the option of imposing higher tariffs should the illegal trade continue.

Mr Hughes, who wrote to Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt asking her to back the tariffs, said: "(The EU) will put in place a temporary regime of tariffs while they look further at the issue.

"This will send a clear signal there is a case to answer which will give them chance to clean up their acts. This is welcome news, it would have been disastrous to the integrated nature of chemical production on Teesside if this had gone against us."

Peter Booth, Transport and General Workers Union national organiser for manufacturing, had also written to Ms Hewitt calling for support to save jobs in the North-East and at Voridian, in Workington, Cumbria.