The UK government has unveiled a new package of steel safeguard measures set to take effect from 1 July 2025, aimed at defending the domestic industry against a surge in redirected foreign imports.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds announced the reforms following urgent calls from UK Steel, which warned of rising pressure on British producers due to increasing volumes of low-cost steel diverted from the United States. The move comes in response to concerns that steel originally destined for the US market has been flooding global supply chains after Washington imposed new tariffs.
Among the most significant changes is a sharp reduction in the steel import quota liberalisation rate—from 3% annually to just 0.1%. The government will also cap residual quotas, ensuring that individual countries cannot monopolise UK market access or displace British-made steel.
Country-specific import limits will be tightened, and rules updated to prevent unused quarterly quotas from rolling over. Additionally, countries with their own quotas will no longer be able to tap into general residual quotas during the final quarter of the year.
These changes bring the UK’s trade defence measures closer in line with those adopted by the European Union and are designed to protect British steelmakers from unfair competition, particularly from heavily subsidised producers abroad.
UK Steel Director-General Gareth Stace welcomed the announcement, calling it “a swift and decisive move in support of British industry.” He said the safeguards would help address the “injury caused to UK steelmakers” by redirected imports and signalled the government’s commitment to a stable industrial environment.
“Jonathan Reynolds has shown that he is on the side of British industry,” Stace said. “This sends a strong message to investors that the UK is committed to building a positive and stable business environment for industry.”
Stace also urged the government to begin work on a longer-term trade defence framework to take effect when the current measures expire at the end of 2026.
The strengthened safeguards are part of a broader UK strategy to bolster manufacturing competitiveness in a turbulent global trade landscape. With steel supply chains facing growing challenges, British producers—especially in South Wales, Yorkshire, and the Midlands—have repeatedly called for more robust protections to secure the industry’s future.
The government said it remains committed to supporting strategic sectors and ensuring that the UK economy remains resilient to external shocks. More details are expected in the forthcoming Trade Strategy, due later this summer, which will outline the UK’s long-term trade policy following Brexit.
