UK business secretary Peter Kyle will meet EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič in Brussels on Friday (5 June) to challenge the EU’s plan to cut tariff-free steel imports from non-EU countries by 47% on 2024 levels from 1 July, while the UK’s own provisional safeguard quotas, also due 1 July, would limit EU exports to 9% of previous hot coil levels, 4% of tin mill and 3% of merchant bars according to a Eurofer letter. Both sides are introducing safeguards—the EU cutting foreign imports by 50% and the UK by 60%—to protect against Chinese steel, but industry sources on both sides fear collateral damage and that China will pivot to finished steel products. UK industry sources note the British quota is flexible and can be changed if reciprocated, whereas the EU cap is strictly fixed; Eurofer’s director general said a zero reduction for the UK is not possible but urged preferential treatment.