The UK has announced new tariffs on steel imports for the transition period
The UK Department of Business and Trade has revealed details of a transition period designed to mitigate the impact of new steel import quotas due to be introduced on July 1.
It has been confirmed that the replacement of the country's protective import measures will include a quarter-to-quarter transfer of unused import quotas, which was also described in detail in the documentation published by DBT on June 2. In addition, imports of steel of Ukrainian origin will continue to be exempt from the UK tariff quotas (TRQS).
In accordance with the recently announced transition period, imported goods under contracts concluded before March 14, 2026, will be fully exempt from 50% excess duties under the foreign trade protection regime from July 1 to September 30.
This will provide some relief to businesses that have expressed concern about the impact of the introduction of the TRQ regime – part of the UK government's new steel strategy – on the cost of imported materials.
UK market participants advocate easing customs duties
DBT has not yet confirmed the volume of tariff quotas for specific countries and products imported into the UK. However, importers, distributors and end users continue to lobby for a relaxation of the UK's proposed legislation after DBT unveiled its plan to reduce the UK's current tariff quotas by 60% from July 1 to April 7.
MEPs John Carruthers-Green, steel market analyst, said: "Despite the latest implementation recommendations, concerns about these measures are still widespread in the UK steel supply chain.
The British research partners of the MEPs continue to cite the new trade measures as the main problem facing the market. The combination of significantly reduced quotas and a 50% tariff that goes beyond quotas represents a major change for a country that is still 70% dependent on imports of its products.electricity consumption. Fuel.
"The problem is that some of the proposed quotas do not reflect current procurement needs or the availability of domestic alternatives. We rarely see such widespread opposition to trade policy proposals, and the fact that major steel producers, consumers, and industry associations are actively lobbying the government demonstrates the scale of concern surrounding these measures."
UK Steel CEO Gareth Stace and President of the International Steel Traders Association Godfrey Watt responded to the planned