NEWS STORY : UK Trade Remedies Authority Proposes Country-Specific Steel Import Quotas to Protect Domestic Industry

STORY

The UK’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) has recommended the implementation of country-specific quota caps on certain steel imports to safeguard the domestic steel industry from global overcapacity and oversupply. Effective from 1 October 2025, the proposed measures would limit tariff-free imports from countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, and Algeria to 40% of the residual quota in specific steel categories, including metallic coated sheets, non-alloy and other alloy quarto plates, and rebar. Imports exceeding these caps would incur a 25% tariff.

Additionally, the TRA has suggested eliminating the “carry-over” provision, which currently allows unused quarterly import quotas to roll over into the next quarter. This change is set to take effect from 1 July 2025.

TRA Chair Nick Baird stated, “The TRA has listened to the concerns of the UK’s steel industry and worked at pace to recommend changes to steel import quota allocations to help protect the UK steel industry from the destabilising impact of global overcapacity.” However, industry group UK Steel has criticised the proposals as insufficient. Director-General Gareth Stace commented, “It is now time for government to step up and swiftly replace ineffective steel safeguards with a robust trade defence mechanism of quotas designed to suit the reality of the market and the world today.”