Politicians call for 'urgent' action from Government over TATA steel suspension
MP Stephen Kinnock and MS David Rees have said in a statement that 'UK steel makers are under attack'
Last updated 13th Oct 2025
Steel production across Tata Steel’s three major sites in South Wales is set to pause for several weeks over the Christmas period, with operations at Port Talbot, Trostre, and Llanwern temporarily suspended.
The planned stoppages will take place between late November and early January, affecting production at:
- Llanwern (pickle line): 27 November – 5 December
- Trostre: 1 December – 8 January
- Port Talbot: 8 December – 8 January
The announcement comes amid growing global market pressures, with concerns over the impact of international tariffs and steel imports on the UK industry.
"UK steel makers are under attack, and we must take action to defend them through enhanced trade defence measures".
In a joint statement responding to the decision, Stephen Kinnock MP and David Rees MS said the move reflected the “devastating knock-on impact” of recent US tariff increases on steel.
"President Trump’s decision to hugely increase tariffs on steel going into the US is having a devastating knock-on impact on UK steel because large quantities of steel that should have been going to America are now being diverted and dumped on us.
"There is only one way to respond to this, which is for the UK government to urgently increase tariffs and decrease quotas, to stop our steel being unfairly undercut.
"It is now very clear that the last country to protect its steel industry will be the first country to lose it."
A UK Government spokesperson said:
“We know this will be a worrying time for staff and their families, but we remain in contact with the company as part of our commitment to a bright and sustainable future for steelmaking and steel making jobs in the UK.
“Thanks to the strength of the UK-US partnership we have negotiated the lowest tariff on steel and aluminium exports of any country, reinforcing our position as a trusted source of high-quality steel.
“We amended the steel safeguard in June to make it more effective and ensure we have robust protections in place and continue to explore stronger trade measures to protect steel producers in South Wales and across the UK.”
Mr Kinnock and Mr Rees said they had already sought a meeting with ministers following the EU’s announcement of its own proposals to raise tariffs on imported steel.