Steel producers, consumers, and unions will shape the UK's future
trade approach for steel, as Ministers seek robust long-term
protections for the industry.
Safeguard measures are put in place temporarily to address sudden
import surges and help industry adapt to new trading
environments, however the challenges now facing the steel
industry demand longer-term solutions.
The current UK steel safeguard measure ends in June 2026 and
cannot be extended. The views from industry will help shape new
future-ready trade measures that will protect UK businesses and
jobs right across the country.
Business and Trade Secretary
said:
"We know this is a tough time for steel producers which is
why this Government is using every tool available to ensure the
long-term success of our vital steel industry, protect jobs and
deliver on our Plan for Change.
Thanks to our deal with the United States, all Section 232
tariffs on UK steel will be removed—while producers in other
countries still face tariffs of up to 50%. But we're not stopping
there.
“We will not sit by idly while cheap imports threaten to
undercut UK industry, so we are inviting industry to shape the
next phase of our trade defences so we can provide robust support
and ensure a fair and competitive market.”
The six-week Call for Evidence comes in addition to further
government action to support industry amid global challenges.
This includes securing a trade deal with the US to remove tariffs
on steel products and protect jobs. It also includes announcing
the upcoming steel strategy, which will establish a long-term
vision for the sector and help build resilient supply chains.
These efforts follow the launch of both the Trade and Industrial
Strategy, which set out broader plans to support key industries,
including steel.
This Call for Evidence is a key step in the Government's wider
commitment to rebuilding the steel sector, alongside decisive
interventions such as the £500 million grant securing the
transformation of Port Talbot steelworks, the £2.5 billion
investment pledged to rebuild the sector, the action taken to
safeguard British Steel's blast furnaces at Scunthorpe, and the
forthcoming Steel Strategy.
UK Steel Director General Gareth Stace said:
“It is welcome news that the Government is developing a new
steel trade defence mechanism.
"With growing global steel overcapacity and rising trade
diversion, Government must deliver a new trade defence system to
provide industry certainty before steel safeguards expire in June
2026."
“UK Steel looks forward to working with Government to design
an effective framework that will help to level the playing field
on international trade and provide the market stability needed to
draw investment in the UK steel sector.”
Community Assistant General Secretary Alasdair McDiarmid
said:
"Trade protections are a vital bastion for our steel industry
in the face of global overcapacity, rising protectionism and
unfair trade. They provide essential security, and safeguard
thousands of jobs across the UK steel industry and its extensive
supply chains.
" We welcome the UK Government's early engagement with the
sector to shape our future steel protections and ensure that a
cliff-edge scenario next year is prevented.”
"This government has demonstrated its steadfast support for
our steel industry, and we will continue to work with them to
secure the long-term future of the sector.”
Notes to editors
- The Call for Evidence opens today and will run for six weeks,
inviting stakeholders across the UK steel supply chain to submit
feedback that will shape future trade measures.
- The UK's steel safeguard measure is set to expire in June
2026 because it's a temporary measure providing domestic
industries with time to adjust to changing market conditions.
These measures are meant to be in place for a limited time to
allow industries to adapt to the influx of imports. WTO rules
don't allow for indefinite extensions of safeguard
measures.
