Brussels, 19 September 2025 – Following today’s meeting between Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič and a delegation of European steel CEOs on the global steel crisis and the challenges facing the EU steel industry amid massive decarbonisation investments:

“We welcome Commissioner Šefčovič’s strong commitment to present, in the first half of October, a highly effective steel trade measure that will secure EU steel capacities and investments in this strategic sector for Europe’s geoeconomic autonomy”, said Dr Henrik Adam, President of the European Steel Association (EUROFER).

The Commissioner also committed to continue pursuing with the U.S. a common approach to ringfence against global steel excess capacity, including a solution on the 50% U.S. tariff on European steel and its derivatives.

The CEOs of the European steel industry were very encouraged by the exchange with Commissioner Šefčovič and pledged to build support among institutions and industry for such an effective trade measure.

“The EU must now stand up and fight for its industrial backbone in the face of the unprecedented existential threat of global steel excess capacity, with millions of European quality jobs at risk. We hope that the expected Commission proposal will be the basis for the European Parliament and the Council to adopt a strong solution”, concluded Dr Adam.

Photo source: EC - Audiovisual Services, © European Union, 2025

Notes for editors

Contact
Lucia Sali, Spokesperson and Head of Communications, +32 2 738 79 35, (l.sali@eurofer.eu)

About the European Steel Association (EUROFER)
EUROFER AISBL is located in Brussels and was founded in 1976. It represents the entirety of steel production in the European Union. EUROFER members are steel companies and national steel federations throughout the EU. The major steel companies and national steel federation of Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom are associate members.

The European Steel Association is recorded in the EU transparency register: 93038071152-83.

About the European steel industry
The European steel industry is a world leader in innovation and environmental sustainability. It has a turnover of around €215 billion and directly employs around 298,000 highly-skilled people, producing on average 146 million tonnes of steel per year. More than 500 steel production sites across 22 EU Member States provide direct and indirect employment to millions more European citizens. Closely integrated with Europe’s manufacturing and construction industries, steel is the backbone for development, growth and employment in Europe.

Steel is the most versatile industrial material in the world. The thousands of different grades and types of steel developed by the industry make the modern world possible. Steel is 100% recyclable and therefore is a fundamental part of the circular economy. As a basic engineering material, steel is also an essential factor in the development and deployment of innovative, CO2-mitigating technologies, improving resource efficiency and fostering sustainable development in Europe.