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Britain says EU is removing tariffs on steel under quota
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 31, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Summary
The EU will lift tariffs on UK steel under a new quota system, enhancing trade ties post-Brexit. UK can export 27,000 tonnes quarterly without extra tariffs.
Britain says EU is removing tariffs on steel under quota
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain said the European Union will remove tariffs on key steel products under a quota system from Friday as part of a reset of ties and a recent deal to ease trade barriers.
In May, Britain agreed the most significant reset of defence and trade ties with the European Union since Brexit, which included a "bespoke arrangement" to protect UK steel exports from new EU rules and tariffs.
Britain had said the European Commission would restore its country-specific steel quota to pre-2022 levels, but had not previously specified when this would take effect.
Trade minister Jonathan Reynolds said the removal of tariffs was "yet another positive step forward for the UK steel sector" after the government intervened to save jobs at British Steel and struck a deal to avoid the highest U.S. steel tariffs.
"Restoring our steel quota helps give producers the certainty they need to compete, grow, and maintain vital export relationships," he said.
Britain said it could export up to 27,000 tonnes of steel to the EU each quarter without paying an extra tariff under the arrangement.
Gareth Stace, director general of UK Steel, said the restoration of the quota was "excellent news", adding companies had been "plagued by problems" shipping items like support beams.
Britain is yet to conclude negotiations with the United States after both sides agreed in May to work to eliminate steel tariffs on exports from Britain.
British steel exports to the U.S. face tariffs of 25%, and avoided an increase to 50% thanks to its U.S. agreement, but talks to remove the tariffs have stalled due to discussions over supply chains and where British steel is "melted and poured".
(Reporting by Alistair SmoutEditing by Frances Kerry)
Key Takeaways
- •EU removes tariffs on UK steel under a quota system.
- •New arrangement boosts UK steel exports post-Brexit.
- •UK can export up to 27,000 tonnes of steel quarterly tariff-free.
- •Negotiations with the US on steel tariffs are ongoing.
- •UK Steel welcomes the restoration of the quota.
Frequently Asked Questions about Britain says EU is removing tariffs on steel under quota
1What recent agreement did Britain reach with the EU regarding steel tariffs?
Britain announced that the EU will remove tariffs on key steel products under a quota system as part of a reset of ties and a deal to ease trade barriers.
2How much steel can Britain export to the EU without tariffs?
Under the new arrangement, Britain can export up to 27,000 tonnes of steel to the EU each quarter without incurring extra tariffs.
3What did UK Steel's director general say about the quota restoration?
Gareth Stace described the restoration of the quota as 'excellent news', highlighting that companies had faced significant challenges in shipping steel products.
4What is the current status of negotiations between Britain and the US regarding steel tariffs?
Negotiations with the United States are ongoing, with both sides having agreed to work towards eliminating steel tariffs on British exports, although discussions have stalled.
5What impact does the tariff removal have on the UK steel sector?
Trade minister Jonathan Reynolds stated that the removal of tariffs is a positive step for the UK steel sector, providing producers with the certainty needed to compete and grow.
