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UK Caps Steel Imports at 0.1% Growth to Protect Domestic Industry

Ministers aim to secure a US carve-out from potential 50% tariffs as they gather industry input on post-2026 safeguard plans

Jonathan Reynolds said the cap on imports would help protect “thousands of families and communities who rely on steel production in the UK”
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Overview

  • The tightened regime, effective July 1, limits year-on-year import growth of sheet metal, steel bars and other key categories to just 0.1%, down from 3%.
  • Products from Vietnam, South Korea and Algeria are among those subject to the new caps designed to counter diverted supplies under US President Trump’s steel tariffs.
  • The government has launched a six-week call for evidence to develop long-term safeguard measures ahead of the expiration of temporary WTO safeguards in June 2026.
  • Negotiations with the United States seek an exemption to avoid a punitive 50% levy on UK steel exports if no sectoral deal is reached by the July 9 deadline.
  • Industry bodies including UK Steel have welcomed the swift tightening as essential to support 36,800 direct jobs and sustain production after the emergency nationalisation of the Scunthorpe blast furnaces.