On January 22, 2025, the UK Trade Remedies Authority announced the revocation of its safeguard measures on cold-rolled sheets. This decision, effective immediately, impacts a wide range of steel products, including non-alloy and alloy cold-rolled sheets under various commodity codes. The revocation follows the cessation of production by Tata Steel, the UK's sole producer of these products, which has decided to halt domestic production of cold-rolled sheets.
This change in the UK’s steel market comes after a review of the existing safeguard measures. The safeguard, which had been extended in July 2024, was initially designed to protect domestic producers from significant injury due to increased imports. However, evidence provided to the TRA indicated that, due to the production halt by Tata Steel, UK steel producers would no longer face the same level of harm from imports that had prompted the original safeguard imposition.
As part of the decision, the UK has revoked safeguard measures on cold-rolled sheets for the following commodity codes: 72091500, 72091690, 72091790, 72091891, 72092500, 72092690, 72092790, 72092890, 72099020, 72099080, 72112320, 72112330, 72112380, 72112900, 72119020, 72119080, 72255020, 72255080, 72262000, and 72269200.
The safeguard had been designed to prevent a surge in imports that could harm local producers. However, as Tata Steel no longer produces cold-rolled sheets for the domestic market, it was determined that these measures were no longer necessary to prevent damage to the UK steel sector. The decision underscores a shift in the UK steel industry, one where reduced local production means the impact of foreign imports is less of a threat.
The revocation of safeguards will likely have significant ramifications for international steel trade, particularly as countries like India and South Korea have been key players in the UK steel import market. According to the UK government's data on Q1 2025 quotas, India has already utilized 53% of its quota, with 47% remaining, while South Korea has used 28% of its quota, leaving 72% available. Meanwhile, the EU and Other countries have barely used their allocations, leaving 93% and 92% respectively available.
Here is a breakdown of the UK’s steel quota usage for Q1 Quota and Import Status for the First Quarter of 2025
The import quotas for the period from 01 January 2025 to 31 March 2025 show notable differences across various regions. In the EU, with a total quota of 79.3 thousand metric tons, only 5.7 thousand metric tons have been imported so far, leaving a substantial 93% of the quota remaining (73.6 thousand metric tons).
For India, the total quota is 11.7 thousand metric tons, with 6.2 thousand metric tons imported, which leaves just 5.4 thousand metric tons or 47% of the quota still available.
In South Korea, with an allocation of 9.8 thousand metric tons, 2.7 thousand metric tons have been imported, leaving 7.0 thousand metric tons, or 72%, still unutilized.
Lastly, for Other countries, with a total quota of 24.7 thousand metric tons, 2.0 thousand metric tons have been imported, leaving 22.8 thousand metric tons, or 92%, remaining for the rest of the period.
