From 1st July, the government will be reducing the amount of steel that can be imported without tariffs, meaning that there will be 50% import tariffs on companies that exceed the 60% quota set by the government. There is some uncertainty over the reasoning behind this decision and it can have serious consequences, as UK steel companies often import these goods in order to remain competitive when they do not have access to these resources in the UK. They may lose this competitive edge as well as moving abroad to conduct their production or it could push them to purchase from less sustainable but cheaper suppliers. However, it is meant to assist in rebuilding the domestic steel industry, whereby the UK will be encouraged to produce their own steel.
How can we help:
Firstly, we will make sure to keep you updated on these policies and assist you with any of your business needs. The BCC has stated that they propose to lobby government in order for them to lower the 50% tariff, accelerate the UK-EU agreements to remove steel tariffs and reduce the scale of quota cuts (BCC, 2026).
If you would like any more information, the ChamberCustoms Team will be running a seminar on zoom on the 11th June 2026 from 11am-12pm. You can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bTWNday8Q_CS-G4hcu6Flw
Additional resources here:
Steel Tariffs Risk Serious Damage To UK Manufacturers – British Chambers of Commerce
UK’s steel trade measure from 1 July 2026 – GOV.UK
If your business is feeling the effects of the UK Steel Strategy, do not hesitate to reach out to our team on [email protected] we need to hear how this effects you, and take this to ministers who make the decisions in parliament.