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Defence: Manufacturing Industries

Asked by Adam DanceLiberal DemocratMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 8 June 2026UIN 5250

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the planned reduction of tariff-free import quotas on steel on defence manufacturing in Yeovil constituency.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The UK Government's Steel Strategy introduced a new trade measure, due to be implemented 1 July 2026 which links the reduction of tariff-free import quotas to protecting the nation's defence manufacturing capabilities and national security. By capping cheaper foreign imports, the policy aims to prevent the total erosion of the UK's domestic steel industry.

Due to the complex, multi-tier supply chains, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made a specific assessment of the impact on defence manufacturing in the Yeovil constituency.

The MOD monitors UK steel trade measures and continues to work with both the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and industry to assess potential impacts on defence supply chains.

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