New measures by the European Union, including doubling tariffs to 50%, reducing duty-free quotas, and requiring the identification of the origin of steel where it was originally melted and poured, threaten the UK steel industry, given that Europe is its main export market.

Experts warn that without a specific exemption agreement, UK steel producers will lose competitiveness against other suppliers, potentially forcing a reduction in production and export volumes.

In response to the need to protect the domestic industry, the UK government announced new measures that will come into effect on July 1, 2026, reducing duty-free import quotas by 60% and applying a 50% tariff if quotas are exceeded. However, the country's metal manufacturers warn that these protectionist measures will result in significantly higher costs for both domestic manufacturers and consumers.