Responding to the EU’s announcement on tariffs this afternoon, Community Assistant General Secretary Alasdair McDiarmid said:
“The new measures proposed by the EU represent an existential threat to our steel industry. Europe is by far the largest destination for UK steel exports, and losing access to this market would have a catastrophic impact on British jobs.
“Steel is the lifeblood of communities across the UK: it provides well-paid employment and supports regional economies. Losing these vital jobs would wreak devastation on some of the areas which can least afford it, and which have already borne the scars of damaging deindustrialisation.
“Global overcapacity is a shared challenge and it is in both the UK and the EU’s interests to work together to find a solution. A trade war, at what is already a turbulent time for the global steel industry, would be incredibly damaging for everyone involved, with workers in the UK and Europe paying the heaviest price.
“The stakes could not be higher, and time is of the essence. We would urge the UK and EU to begin urgent negotiations and do everything possible to prevent the crushing impact these proposals would have on our steel industry.”
© Community Trade Union 2026
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