The UK is tightening restrictions on steel imports by sharply reducing its tariff-free quota and increasing duties on shipments that exceed it, in an effort to protect its small but strategically important steel industry. The government announced on Thursday that it will cut the volume of steel eligible for tariff-free entry by 60%, while imports above that level will be subject to a 50% tariff—double the previous rate of 25%. The new measures will come into force on July 1.
The decision follows ongoing difficulties for domestic steelmakers after decades of deindustrialisation, made worse by high energy costs and a global oversupply of cheap steel. By strengthening its trade defences, the government aims to stabilise the sector amid intensifying international competition. The policy also aligns the UK with recent tariff increases in the United States and planned measures in the European Union, against a backdrop of escalating global trade tensions.
