The EU plans to reduce steel import quotas and increase tariffs

The European Commission (EC) will propose to cut steel import quotas by almost half and raise tariffs on volumes exceeding these levels to 50%, in line with tariffs imposed by the US and Canada. This was reported by Reuters, citing an informed source.

The EC will officially present a new package of measures for the steel sector on October 7, and these steps will be part of it. Prior to the announcement, EC Executive Vice President Stéphane Séjourné held a closed briefing for industry representatives.

The European Union has already tightened steel import quotas since April 1 this year. The European Commission is studying market trends regarding potential protective measures on aluminum, as well as export duties on scrap. The bloc’s current protective measures on steel expire on June 30, 2026.

European steel producers currently face a 50% export tariff on shipments to the US. After reaching a trade agreement with the United States in the summer, the bloc announced its intention to work closely with Washington as part of a “metallurgical alliance” to counter China’s excess capacity.

European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic met with US Trade Representative Jason Greer on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit to resume negotiations on steel (the EC proposed that Washington abolish or reduce tariffs within the framework of quotas). Sources in the EU previously told Reuters that the new European protective measures would be a starting point for detailed negotiations with the United States.

As reported by Germany’s Handelsblatt, the European Commission plans to impose tariffs of 25% to 50% on Chinese steel and related products in the coming weeks.