British steel facing ‘existential threat’ after EU hikes tariffs

The British steel industry has been plunged into crisis after the European Union announced plans to slap 50 per cent tariffs on UK imports.

In what is a major blow to Sir Keir Starmer’s mission to reset relations with the bloc after Brexit, the European Commission revealed plans to double the current level of 25 per cent, while reducing tariff-free import volumes to 18.3 million tonnes a year – a 47 per cent reduction.