EU opens consultation on future steel import safeguards

The European Commission followed the UK in opening a consultation on legislation that will replace the existing steel import safeguard mechanisms, which will expire on June 30, 2026.

The Commission’s call for evidence comes amid mounting concerns over global steelmaking overcapacity and the effect of the United States’ rising import tariffs, which could see increasing volumes of low-cost steel redirected to the EU. 

Steel market participants’ responses to the new consultation, which is open until August 18, will guide a Commission proposal on a replacement trade defence mechanism. This is expected to be published in quarter three of this year.  

The newly opened consultations follow recent revisions that tightened the safeguard measures imposed by both the EU and UK. 

EU trade defence forms a key part of the Commission’s broader Steel and Metals Action Plan, which aims to maintain a viable and competitive European steel industry. The plan follows high-level engagements earlier this year, including a Strategic Dialogue on Steel hosted by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 

The Commission warns that, without action, the expiry of the current tariff-rate quota system, which imposes a 25% duty on above-quota steel imports, could leave the EU steel sector exposed to surging, underpriced imports. 

“During our monthly research calls we have heard a growing concern across the market about what will happen when the current safeguard measures expire,” said MEPS steel market analyst Jon Carruthers-Green.  

“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.” 

UK steel safeguard review 

Earlier this month the UK government’s Department for Business and Trade launched a similar consultation, which is open for submissions until August 7, 2025. The consultation’s responses will inform the future of the nation’s steel trade defence measures once existing safeguards expire in June 2026.  

The UK’s safeguard measures were established while the country was still a member of the EU and mirrored its approach to protecting domestic industry from injurious import surges. Consequently, the current safeguard mechanism applies a 25% tariff on imports exceeding established quotas across 14 steel product categories. 

Since the UK’s withdrawal from the EU in January 2020, it has operated a separate, parallel scheme, administered independently. The UK regime has since been tailored to reflect the specific needs of the domestic steel market, and as a result, covers fewer product categories than the EU version. This is due in part to the absence of UK-based production of certain steel products, which makes safeguard measures on those categories unnecessary. 

Industry association UK Steel is calling for a new regime to begin in January 2026 to avoid uncertainty and encourage investment.