Bradley Thomas MP has urged the Government to take action to avoid “economic disaster” ahead of the start of their new steel tariff and quota regime.
Back in March, the Government announced it would be slashing total duty-free steel import quotas by 60% and doubling the tariff on imports exceeding those quotas to 50%.
The policy applies across 20 finished steel product categories, including plates, strips, tubes, and reinforcing bars, but only covers products that can be manufactured domestically in the UK.
The new steel trade measure is due to take effect on July 1st, 2026.
In recent months, following the announcement of the Government’s new steel tariff and quota regime, Bradley met with a number of local steel-focussed companies to discuss their concerns and the impact this policy will have on their businesses.
In Parliament last month, the local MP also raised the case of one local business owner who told him that their business “faces either a slow death or a swift death, and that it faces calling in the administrators before Christmas” because of the new steel tariff and quota regime.
At Prime Minister’s Question’s today (June 17th), Bradley took the opportunity to question the Deputy Prime Minister, who stood in for the Prime Minister, and asked David Lammy what action the Government is taking to mitigate the impact of their new steel tariff and quota regime.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Bradley said:
“In two weeks’ time, new steel quotas and 50% tariffs will come into force, which industry have said will cost jobs.
“UKF Steel in my constituency have been clear. They have said that without a change of course, they will almost certainly cease trading before the end of the year and will cost 50 jobs in my constituency.
“Last week, I attended a cross-party roundtable, and it was clear that my concerns are also shared by many Labour MPs who are concerned about job losses and further de-industrialisation.
“What action is being taken at the very top of Government to mitigate the effects of what will be an imminent but avoidable economic disaster?”
In response, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said:
“He raises a serious issue, and he might have forgot that this House legislated emergency measures to save steel across our country, and of course we will continue to do more, and I would say to him that of course it is on the agenda for the Prime Minister at the G7.”
