New UK steel import controls took effect on July 1, 2026, halving tariff-free quota volumes and imposing a 50% duty on shipments above the threshold. Manufacturing representatives in Northern Ireland say the policy could be catastrophic for firms reliant on steel, making them less competitive internationally and threatening employment.

The measures limit overall quota volumes by 51%. Transitional arrangements exempt goods under contract before 14 March 2026 if imported between 1 July and 30 September, and steel products not manufactured domestically are also excluded from the tariff. Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said the policy is designed to protect UK steelmaking from global overcapacity while providing supply-chain certainty, and it will be reviewed after 12 months.

Darragh Cullen, managing director of EDGE Innovate near Dungannon, said the government’s approach is highly questionable. The company uses steel to produce quarrying, mining, and recycling machinery. Cullen warned that higher steel costs would cut exports, reduce revenue flowing into the local economy, and threaten jobs, describing the move as a self-inflicted setback that helps international competitors who do not face the same levies.

Michael McGrath, director of Crushing Screen Parts in Maghera, said his firm competes with companies in Romania, Brazil, and China. Additional costs not borne by those rivals would further erode opportunities, he said, calling the policy another blow to local industry.

Stephen Kelly of Manufacturing NI said the impact would be profound. The group lobbied the UK government without success. Steel prices rose ahead of the tariff, hitting competitiveness, and at least one company has already transferred production abroad, costing millions of pounds in lost turnover, he said.

Barry Taylor, managing director of the Mid Ulster-based business network Mega, said the changes had slipped under the radar for some firms. He urged companies to examine where their steel originates so they can make necessary commercial decisions with customers or within supply chains.

The Mid Ulster council area holds 20% of Northern Ireland’s manufacturing employment and accounts for more than 40% of global mobile crushing and screening equipment production. Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald expressed concern that there has been little thought about the downstream impact on firms that use steel. She questioned whether enough steel can be produced in Britain to meet demand and said a 12-month review is not sufficient, promising to raise the matter with British counterparts.