Business Secretary Sajid Javid is cutting short his trip to Australia and returning to the UK because of the steel industry crisis.
He had been criticised by union officials and opposition MPs for not travelling to Mumbai to lobby the board of steel giant Tata.
The firm has decided to sell its UK assets, threatening thousands of job cuts.
Mr Javid was in Australia on a business trip and was due to speak at an invite-only meeting of business leaders in Sydney.
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He will now return earlier than planned to the UK.