LONDON — The United Kingdom’s new tariff-free steel import quota regime will come into force on July 1, introducing tighter safeguards designed to protect the domestic steel industry from a surge in low-cost imports.
Under the new rules, the volume of steel that can enter the UK duty-free will be reduced by 51%, with the annual quota set at approximately 3.2 million tonnes. Imports exceeding the quota will face a 50% tariff, double the previous 25% rate. The measures replace the post-Brexit steel safeguard system that expires at the end of June.
The British government said the revised quotas strike a balance between shielding domestic steelmakers from global overcapacity—particularly the influx of cheaper steel linked to Chinese production—and ensuring manufacturers continue to have access to essential raw materials. Eleven categories of steel products that are not produced domestically will remain exempt from the new tariffs.
The policy follows months of consultations with industry and has been coordinated with similar trade protection measures introduced by the European Union to maintain stability across interconnected supply chains. While UK steel producers have broadly welcomed the strengthened safeguards, some manufacturers and construction firms have warned that higher import costs could increase production expenses and disrupt supply chains.
The government has said it will review the effectiveness of the new quota system after 12 months to assess its impact on both steel producers and steel-consuming industries.
Source: Patronlar Dünyası/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök