According to the exemption obtained by the company, steel products processed in the United Kingdom, even if their raw materials were produced abroad, will be considered of UK origin and will be eligible for export to the US with lower customs duties.
Under the trade measures introduced during Donald Trump’s administration in the US, most steel imports are subject to a 50% tariff. However, a lower tariff rate of 25% is applied to the United Kingdom. Under normal conditions, benefiting from this advantage requires compliance with the “melted and poured” rules, which stipulate that the steel must be entirely produced in the UK.
According to the company spokesperson, the exemption makes it possible for steel processed at the Port Talbot facility in Wales and shipped to the US to be recognized as UK-origin, even though primary steel production is no longer carried out in the UK.
Tata Steel UK had shut down its blast furnaces at Port Talbot in 2024 as part of its transition to electric arc furnace production, making the facility temporarily dependent on imported raw materials, including supplies from its operations in the Netherlands.
The company stated that the decision reflects the “transition period” that will continue until the electric arc furnace investments at the Port Talbot facility are completed. It was also noted that the exemption was first reported by the Netherlands-based BNR, citing Politico.
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