Concerns over steel tariffs have sparked calls for government action.

The issue has arisen after a visit to S-FABS, a specialist steel fabrication business in Selsey, by Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller to discuss the impact of the UK’s Steel Strategy and the expected challenges posed by new tariffs set to take effect from July 1, 2026.

S-FABS, based at Ferry Yard Industrial Park, reached out to the MP to raise concerns about the government’s approach and its potential effects on businesses like theirs.

Ms Brown-Fuller said: “It was a pleasure to visit S-FABS in Selsey and hear directly from Tony and the rest of the team about the challenges facing UK steel fabricators.

“Businesses like this are highly skilled, rooted in our local economy, and essential to the wider construction supply chain.

“We discussed the concerns raised around the UK Steel Strategy, particularly the potential impact of tariff structures on competitiveness, supply chains and the availability of key materials for fabrication, as well as job opportunities businesses like theirs provide for our coastal community in Selsey.”

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The company warned that tariffs on specialist steel products not produced in the UK could force up costs without providing a domestic replacement.

While such products could become more expensive, fabricated steel appears to be excluded from the regime, potentially encouraging processing overseas and threatening UK jobs.

Ms Brown-Fuller has co-signed a letter to the Secretary of State, led by Liberal Democrat business spokesperson Sarah Olney MP, urging the government to delay the implementation of new quotas and to collaborate with industry on alternative solutions to prevent ‘irreversible damage.’

Following the visit, Ms Brown-Fuller has also submitted a series of Written Questions to the Secretary of State to ensure the issues are addressed at the highest level.

S-FABS is a key part of the wider construction supply chain.

The company argues that it is exactly the kind of business the government’s own Industrial Strategy should be protecting.

With margins already under pressure and demand described as ‘fragile,’ the company believes further cost increases could put jobs and long-term viability at risk.