EU launches consultation on future of steel import safeguards

The European Commission has initiated a public consultation on the future of its steel import safeguard measures, currently set to expire on June 30, 2026. The move comes amid growing concerns over global steel overcapacity and potential redirection of low-cost steel into the European market due to rising U.S. import tariffs.

The Commission’s call for evidence, which runs until August 18, is intended to gather input from stakeholders across the steel supply chain. Responses will inform the development of a new trade defence mechanism, expected to be proposed in the third quarter of 2025.

The consultation follows recent adjustments that strengthened both EU and UK steel safeguard measures. It is also a key element of the EU’s broader Steel and Metals Action Plan, which aims to maintain the competitiveness and resilience of the European steel industry. The plan was shaped in part by high-level discussions earlier this year, including the Strategic Dialogue on Steel hosted by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Currently, the EU’s safeguard regime applies a 25% tariff on steel imports that exceed quota levels. Without a replacement, the Commission warns, the expiry of these measures could leave domestic producers vulnerable to a sharp increase in low-cost imports.

Jon Carruthers-Green, a steel market analyst at MEPS, emphasized the significance of the consultation: “During our monthly research calls we have heard a growing concern across the market about what will happen when the current safeguard measures expire. This consultation is a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to help shape future trade policy in a way that reflects the realities of the market. Now is the time for the steel supply chain to make its views heard.”

Parallel to the EU’s initiative, the UK government has also launched its own consultation on the future of its steel safeguard measures, which remain in place until June 2026. The UK’s mechanism, introduced while the country was still part of the EU, mirrors the EU’s 25% above-quota tariff but applies to a narrower set of 14 steel product categories.

Since Brexit, the UK has adapted its regime to better reflect domestic market needs. According to MEPS, the more focused coverage is partly due to the lack of UK production in certain categories, making safeguards in those areas unnecessary.

UK Steel, the national industry association, is urging the government to introduce a new safeguard framework beginning in January 2026 to ensure continuity and support long-term investment in the sector.

Source: www.mepsinternational.com, Photo: Fotolia