The measures are intended to counter-balance imports of steel products that could be manufactured in the UK. Implementation will become effective on the 1^st of July 2026. 

The measures were first announced in March and published in The UK Steel Strategy Policy Paper on 20^th March 2026, and are intended to protect domestic steelmaking, considered to be in decline, with the industry adversely affected by global overcapacity.

The publication provisionally sets out the products to which this measure applies, the volume of steel that may enter the UK tariff-free, and the tariffs that will apply on out-of-quota imports.

It is understood that prior to implementation of the measures, changes may be made to the provisional product scope and quota volumes set out in this information note. These will be published in due course.

The publication states that the effects of overcapacity, compounded by high operating costs, have resulted in a decline of more than 50% in UK crude steel production over the last 10 years. 

It also suggests that corrective action is imperative to offset the present global dynamics that critically endanger the UK’s ability to produce steel, thereby impacting local production of materials needed for defence and critical national infrastructure sectors such as energy and transport.

Steel commodities captured in the 1^st July measures:

A full list of the present published tariff codes subject to the measures can be found in the publication here: UK's steel trade measure from 1 July 2026 - GOV.UK  under the 20 named categories listed below:

• metallic-coated sheets
• organic coated sheets
• tin mill product
• non-alloy and other alloy quarto plates
• alloy merchant bars and light sections
• non-alloy merchant bars and light sections
• rebars
• stainless bars and light sections 
• stainless wire rod
• non-alloy and other alloy wire rod
• angles, shapes, and sections of iron or non-alloy steel
• railway material
• gas pipes
• hollow sections
• large welded tubes (1)
• large welded tubes (2)
• other welded tubes
• non-alloy and other alloy cold finished bars
• non-alloy wire

Tariff rate quotas

The notice directs importers to prepare for the possibility of an additional 50% tariff applying to steel imports exceeding a quota limit. 

Important note: the 50% tariff measure would be in addition to the published tariff rate for a commodity code.

Unused steel quota will not roll over year-on-year.

A transitional arrangement is under consideration, given the potential impact on importers with established supply contracts due to changes in tariff quotas or rates. 

The proposed date range under discussion for the transitional arrangement is for contracts agreed before 14^th March 2026 for goods imported between 1^st July and 30^th September 2026.  Further details will be published when any transitional arrangements are agreed.

The notice also includes detailed tables for authorised use and exclusions to the measures.

A link to the notice for the trade measures to be implemented on 1^st July can be found here:

UK's steel trade measures from 1 July 2026 - GOV.UK

The legislation:

Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018

The regulatory Statutory Instrument laid on 1^st June, amending the regulations, can be found at the link below:

The Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2026

The Ministerial Statement published in March 2026 can be found here: The UK steel strategy (web version) - GOV.UK.

A previous article on safeguarding measures is available here: Case Study UK Trade Remedies: Safeguarding Measures.

Further Strong and Herd articles on trade remedies can be found here: Further Trade Remedy Articles