EU halves duty-free steel quota for UK

EU halves duty-free steel quota, grants UK and 12 partners higher rate

7 reported

The European Union has reduced the amount of duty-free steel it will accept from abroad by half, but has agreed to higher import levels for 13 trading partners with free trade agreements, including the United Kingdom. The curbs are designed to reduce cheap Chinese steel entering the bloc, particularly after trade was diverted from the US due to Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs launched in April 2025. The UK’s quota was reduced by only a third, compared to the overall 47% cut for non-FTA countries, and the UK government said it secured a tariff-free quota of 2.14 million tonnes out of the total 9.15 million tonne limit. The new steel safeguards mark the biggest divergence in trade with the UK since Brexit in 2020 and match similar moves announced last week by the UK to reduce foreign imports. The EU trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, said the commission is putting in place practical arrangements to ensure the measure operates effectively from day one. The quotas are based on trade data from 2022 to 2024 and cover 28 categories of steel products.

What’s reported

The EU halved the amount of duty-free steel it will accept from abroad.

13 countries with free trade agreements, including the UK, had their quota reduced by only a third.

The curbs are designed to reduce cheap Chinese steel coming into the bloc.

The UK secured a tariff-free quota of 2.14 million tonnes out of the total 9.15 million tonne limit.

The new rules match similar moves announced last week by the UK to reduce foreign imports.

The quotas are based on trade data from 2022 to 2024 and cover 28 categories of steel products.

The EU trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, said the commission is putting in place practical arrangements to ensure the measure operates effectively from day one.