UK extends safeguard, Ukraine suspension to 2026

The UK has decided to extend the steel safeguard measure across all 15 categories and maintain the suspension for Ukraine for an additional two years, until 30 June 2026. This decision follows the Trade Remedies Authority’s extension review.

The UK’s decision follows the EU’s formal publication of a steel safeguard extension decision on 25 June.

According to World Trade Organization rules, the trade remedy tool can only be applied until June 2026, Kallanish notes. The UK implemented steel safeguards for 19 product categories in 2021, inheriting them from its time in the EU, and maintained measures for 15 of them thereafter.

UK Steel has emphasised the significance of the safeguard extension for the UK’s steel sector. While the extension provides temporary relief, ongoing trade challenges are anticipated beyond 2026, says UK Steel director general Gareth Stace.

“While today’s extension of the steel safeguards has bought us some time, we are acutely aware that the trade challenges we face will persist beyond 2026. Global excess capacity is fast approaching unsustainable levels, fuelled by state subsidies and mostly from high-emission blast furnaces. Addressing excess capacity is not just a trade objective but should be part and parcel of any carbon leakage strategy too,” Stace adds.

Elina Virchenko UAE

kallanish.com