Overview

• The European Commission unveiled a proposal to double steel import duties to 50% and cut the duty‑free quota to about 18.3 million tonnes, a reduction of roughly 47%.
• The package, presented to the European Parliament, would replace the expiring safeguard regime and still requires approval from EU member states and MEPs.
• UK ministers say they are in talks with Brussels and Washington as industry groups call for country‑specific quotas or exemptions to protect access to the EU market.
• Unions and UK Steel warn the measures pose an existential threat to British producers and could redirect millions of tonnes of global steel toward the UK market.
• The plan includes anti‑circumvention steps such as ‘melt and pour’ origin rules and is paired with an EU push for a US‑EU metals alliance to tackle global overcapacity.