The UK has tightened its steel import safeguard measures beyond earlier proposals from the Trade Remedies Authority (TRA), following intervention from the Secretary of State, Jonathan Reynolds, effective on July 1, 2025.

New rules apply 15% caps on individual countries' use of quarterly import quotas for metallic coated sheet (Category 4), non-alloy and other alloy quarto plates (Category 7), and rebar (Category 13), a reduction from the TRA's recommended caps of 40%.

The tariff-rate quota liberalization for all 14 product categories is now reduced to 0.1% (instead of 3%). Unused quarterly quotas won't be available in the following quarter, and specific country quotas can't access residual quotas in the final quarter (April 1 to June 30, 2026). Developing country exemptions will also be updated.

The government stated these changes ensure the overall effectiveness for domestic producers and supply security. Gareth Stace, UK Steel director general, said this decision is crucial given the potential steel redirection from the US market.