UK Government Faces Pressure to Ease Steel Safeguards

UK manufacturers are pushing back against import curbs designed to prop up the country’s ailing steel industry, with ministers facing growing calls to soften the levies before they come into effect next month.

The proposed measures will sharply reduce tariff-free import quotas and impose a 50% duty on shipments exceeding those limits to protect the UK’s domestic industry from cheap imports. They’re due to come into effect on July 1.

Business groups argue that the rules damage the competitiveness of British manufacturers reliant on imports.

“The cliff-edge on these plans is fast approaching so the opportunity is narrowing to avoid ...