Steel Quotas and Tariffs: Navigating the New Horizon for Imports and Exports

On 1 July 2026, the UK Government and European Union applied new systems of quotas and tariffs through their revised safeguard measures on steel, affecting billions of pounds of trade in steel products, and downstream industries like manufacturing, engineering and construction. Both sides reached a deal in late June, meaning that of the EU's 47% reduction in its overall steel quota to 18.3m tonnes per year, two-thirds of UK steel exports to the EU, worth around £3bn a year, will remain tariff-free and have full access to the EU market. Exports above the quotas will be subject to 50% duties. On the UK side, following the deal, DBT revised its own import quotas, with a reduction in quotas of 51%, down from 60% from the original plan, with more products being exempted from duties, and a new quota created for downstream producers importing steel to make into specified kinds of finished goods. Imports above the quota will also be tariffed at 50%. Despite these outcomes, firms will face higher import costs, supply chain and customs compliance responsibilities when importing steel or using steel products within their operations. In this one-hour webinar, experts from the British Chambers of Commerce and ChamberCustoms will cover: • The final shape of the new framework • Policy insight on the deal between the EU and its key trading partners, including the UK • The scope of steel goods affected following the last-minute revision • Available transitional arrangements and timeline for review of UK quotas • Customs compliance implications • What UK businesses need to do to adjust to the trading environment Recorded on 9th July 2026