Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that businesses in the downstream metals sector are supported during proposed changes to the steel safeguard regime.

This Government recognises the distinct value of downstream users and has held multiple Ministerial discussions with businesses in the downstream metals sector, hosting roundtables on 19 January and 19 March. Officials have engaged extensively and will continue to do so.

The measure has been designed to strike a careful balance between supporting domestic steelmaking and maintaining secure, reliable supply for downstream users, so the UK can meet its national security and industrial needs. We will review the measure after 12 months.

To support supply chain adaptations, we are introducing a transitional arrangement under which the new measure would not apply to goods agreed under contract before 14 March 2026 and imported between 1 July and 30 September 2026. Further detail will be published in due course.