David Cameron has called for European ministers to hold talks on the crisis-hit steel industry as it emerged plants could be offered extra time to meet emissions targets.
The Conservative leader believes that the UK could learn from countries like Luxembourg and Germany whose steel sectors, although struggling, are not suffering to the same extent as the UK's.
Thousands of job cuts have been announced in recent weeks by Tata Steel and SSI in Redcar, Scunthorpe and Scotland.
Industry leaders have blamed cheap international imports and high energy costs.
In a bid to ease the latter, ministers announced plans to allow some steel plants a further four years to meet an EU emissions directive.
The extra time has been a key demand of the industry.
Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: “I am acutely aware of the challenges currently facing our steel industry and where the Government can help support them we will.”
Gareth Stace, director of UK Steel, welcomed the move as a "good step in the right direction".
Earlier he told MPs that the steel industry was like a patient on an operating table and "likely to die" without urgent help.
The Conservative Government also revealed that hundreds of new armoured vehicles are being built with Swedish, not British, steel.
Defence minister Philip Dunne said the £3.5 billion scheme, for 589 Scout vehicles, required "specialist" steel in "relatively small quantities".
Steel workers are preparing to lobby MPs amid growing demands for action from Conservative ministers.
Tony Burke, the assistant general secretary of the Unite union, said: "The message from steelworkers and their communities to the Government is clear. Step in and support the industry to save our steel before it's too late.
"The approach by ministers so far has been to deal with the symptoms of the steel crisis, when what steel and manufacturing communities want is action that secures UK steelmaking and secures their futures.
"How many more jobs need to go and how many more communities will be devastated before the Government acts?
"We urge MPs to send a strong message to the Government on behalf of tens of thousands of steelworkers and their families and back action to support their jobs and the UK's steel industry."
Mr Javid is due to meet EU commissioners in Brussels to press the case for more action on 'unfair trade' damaging the steel industry.
Meanwhile, the taskforce set up to save Scotland's steel industry should give "serious consideration" to public or employee buyouts of two Lanarkshire plants earmarked for closure, according to MSPs.
Business minister Fergus Ewing said all options are being considered as part of efforts to keep the Dalzell and Clydebridge sites up and running, but the "best possible option" is to find a new commercial operator.
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