EU halves duty-free steel quota but UK and other partners given better rate

The EU has halved the amount of duty-free steel it will accept from abroad, but has agreed to higher levels of imports for 12 trading partners including the UK. The curbs are designed to reduce cheap Chinese steel coming into the bloc. However, 12 countries with a free trade agreement (FTA) with Brussels, including the UK, have had their quota reduced by just one-third. “The Commission is putting in place the practical arrangements needed to ensure that the EU’s steel measure operates effectively from day one,” said the EU trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič. “We are providing market participants with predictability through clear and transparent quota distribution rules.” The new steel safeguards mark the biggest divergence in trade with the UK since the Brexit transition period began at the start of 2020. They were originally announced to slow down the use of Chinese products in European industries, particularly after trade was diverted from the US as a result of Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs launched in April 2025. The EU said last year it planned to cut overall tariff-free imports from non-EU countries by 47% on 2024 levels from 1 July 2026 and double tariffs to 50% for all imports outside those quotas. However, it has struck deals with 12 specific countries with which it already has a FTA allowing them to sell between 66% and 67% of their historic trade on average. …