New Steel Tariffs Come into Force

New tariffs on imported steel come into force today, 1 July 2026, and are expected to affect the cost and availability of steel roofing and cladding materials.

The government is cutting the amount of steel that can be imported tariff-free. The new limit is 60% lower than the current safeguard measure.

Importers can still bring in steel without paying extra, but only up to a set quota. Once that quota is used up, any further imports face a 50% tariff.

The quotas are set per product type, per quarter, and per country of origin, on a first come, first serve basis. They reset every three months. If a quota fills early in the quarter, imports from that country face the tariff for the rest of the quarter.

The government says this measure is designed to protect UK steelmaking, which has more than halved its output over the last decade.

Impact for Roofing and Cladding

Most raw steel categories in the measure are aimed at heavy industry, shipbuilding, and construction frames. However, several categories cover materials used regularly in roofing and cladding work, such as:

• Metallic coated sheets (galvanised and similar coated steel sheet)
• Organic coated sheets (pre-painted or pre-finished coated steel)
• Non-alloy and other alloy hot-rolled sheets and strips – an input material used to manufacture roofing sheet and other steel products
• Angles, shapes and sections of iron or non-alloy steel – used for structural steel roof framing and supports
• Hollow sections – used for purlins and structural steel roof supports
• Non-alloy merchant bars and light sections – used in structural framing on roofing projects

New Steel Tariffs

The new Steel Strategy has been opposed by the construction sector since it was announced in March 2026, with industry bodies such as the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) pushing for alternatives. The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has also made its concerns known and says it continues to monitor the situation.

The NFRC commented, “This effort to stimulate domestic steel production has not adequately been thought out and poses a significant risk to the roofing and cladding sector.

“The UK construction sector is not yet set up to source all required steel grades and volumes from domestic producers alone, which means the tariffs risk supply shortages and price increases. At a time when costs for the entire supply chain are skyrocketing, this could push many businesses over the brink.

“If these tariffs are having a direct impact on your business, please contact policy@nfrc.co.uk. We will share your evidence directly with government during the review period to support the case for lessening their impact.”

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