The UK government has announced a major package of trade protections and investment plans aimed at strengthening the domestic steel industry and reducing reliance on imports.

Central to the plan is a new Steel Strategy, which sets a target for up to 50% of steel used in the UK to be produced domestically—up from around 30%.

The strategy is accompanied by tougher trade measures designed to shield British producers from surges in cheaper foreign steel, helping to stabilise the sector and protect jobs.

Ministers say the package will be backed by up to £2.5 billion in funding to support investment, modernisation and the transition to greener steelmaking technologies.

The government described the move as part of a wider effort to rebuild the UK’s industrial base, ensure long-term economic security and support communities reliant on steel production.

Industry leaders and workers are expected to benefit from increased demand for UK-made steel, particularly in major infrastructure and construction projects.

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Making steel in the UK is vital for national security, critical infrastructure and the wider economy. Steel-making is a cornerstone of our modern industrial policy that deliberately focuses support for key industries, technologies, and strategically important sectors.   

“With this strategy we are closing the decades-long chapter of destructive de-industrialisation and committing instead to strengthening and sustaining Britain as a steel-making nation.”