Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2026
323Ayes
160Noes
Carried · majority 163 · Government won167 did not vote
650 Members · Aye 323 · No 160 · DNV 167 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament voted on 24 June 2026 to approve the Customs (Tariff and Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 4) Regulations 2026, a statutory instrument that raises import duties on certain steel products to 50%. The motion passed by 323 votes to 160. The regulations implement part of the Government's steel strategy, announced in March 2026. They replace the expiring UK steel safeguard measure and increase the standard rate of import duty to 50% across 20 categories of steel products, covering items including bright bar, wire and stainless steel. The instrument also removes preferential tariff rates previously agreed in trade deals or applied unilaterally, with one exception: preferential rates for Ukraine are maintained as part of the UK's stated commitment to supporting that country against Russia's invasion. Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs voted unanimously in favour, joined by Plaid Cymru, the SDLP and one independent. Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, the DUP and two independents all voted against. There were no rebellions recorded on the government side. The Liberal Democrats' decision to vote against, rather than abstain, was notable given the party's general positioning on trade issues, and the DUP raised specific concerns about Northern Ireland's distinct legal position under EU single market rules.
Voting Aye meant
Support the 50% steel import tariff as necessary to protect British steel production, preserve steelworker jobs, and guard against unfair trade practices from China and the impact of US tariffs.
Voting No meant
Oppose the 50% tariff as poorly designed and rushed, arguing it will harm downstream manufacturers in aerospace, engineering and defence who depend on specialist steel grades unavailable from UK producers, threatening thousands of jobs.
Each row is one party. The stacked bar gives the within-party split of Aye / No / Absent; the columns on the right give the raw counts. The whip column shows the published party position — “Free vote” means the whip was formally removed for this division.
Party
Whip
Aye / No / Abs
Aye
No
Abs
Labour Party
Whipped Aye
281
0
79
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
91
25
Liberal Democrats
Whipped No
0
54
17
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped Aye
34
0
9
Independent
—
1
2
10
Reform UK
Whipped No
0
6
2
Scottish National Party
—
0
0
7
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
5
0
Green Party of England and Wales
—
0
0
5
Plaid Cymru
Whipped Aye
4
0
0
Social Democratic and Labour Party
—
2
0
0
Your Party
—
1
0
1
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
—
0
0
1
Restore Britain
—
0
0
1
Speaker
—
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
—
0
0
1
Ulster Unionist Party
—
0
1
0
Source · Hansard · UK Parliament Votes API · whip status from announced positions; “free vote” indicates the whip was formally removed
Steel tariffs are necessary to protect domestic production and ensure national security; the government has engaged with industry on exemptions and will keep measures under review.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,206 words) →
The tariffs will destroy 300,000 downstream manufacturing jobs by imposing a 50% tax on specialist steels that cannot be sourced domestically; the government should exempt categories 14 and 27 and adopt a Canadian-style relief scheme.Conservative · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (2,850 words) →
Protecting upstream steel production at the expense of downstream manufacturing is fundamentally wrong; categories 14 and 27 should be removed as no domestic alternative exists.Liberal Democrat · Voted no · Read full speech (936 words) →
The government's own explanatory memorandum admits negative impacts on downstream businesses; introducing rushed, uncosted legislation that will threaten manufacturing jobs is indefensible.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (1,016 words) →
The regulations are ill-conceived and fail to address Northern Ireland's unique position under EU trade rules; the government should explain the constitutional and economic consequences for the region.TUV · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (765 words) →
Global oversupply arguments do not justify tariffs on high-grade specialist steels used in medical devices and other critical sectors where no UK alternative exists.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (260 words) →
Demand for steel is 9.1 million tonnes annually but UK production is only 5.6 million; a 50% tariff on imports cannot be imposed while domestic capacity is insufficient.DUP · Voted no · Read full speech (172 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0