The UK steel industry has warned of what could become the biggest crisis in its history, following the European Union’s decision to cut tariff-free import quotas by 47% compared to 2024 and to double import duties on steel exceeding those quotas from 25% to 50%.
Gareth Stace, Director General of the trade association UK Steel, said the sector is facing “the greatest crisis in its modern history,” urging the UK government to take urgent action to secure dedicated quotas for British producers under the EU’s new system, to prevent severe losses in production and exports.
In a statement, the European Commission said the move responds to demands from workers, producers, and several member states to “provide stronger and more lasting protection for the European steel industry,” noting that the new measure will replace the current safeguard regime when it expires in June 2026.
According to Emily Savitch, Head of Industry at RSM UK, the EU’s decision poses a significant threat to the British steel sector, highlighting that the EU accounts for around 80% of the UK’s steel exports.
The announcement has sparked widespread anger across Britain’s industrial and political circles, as the country is already grappling with a sharp decline in steel production, factory closures, and thousands of job losses — while US tariffs of 25% on UK steel exports remain in place.
