Brussels, 1 July 2026: The European Steel Association (EUROFER) has welcomed the entry into force today of the EU's new steel trade measure, calling it a historic shift in European industrial and trade policy and a decisive response to the destructive impact of global steel overcapacity on Europe's industry.

Replacing the existing safeguard regime, the new measure introduces a reinforced tariff-rate quota (TRQ) system with lower tariff-free quotas, a higher tariff on imports above quota levels, enhanced monitoring and stronger anti-circumvention tools. Unlike previous trade defence measures, it is designed not only to curb import surges but also to safeguard Europe's steelmaking capacity and support decarbonisation.

A game changer for European steel

Commenting on the measure, Axel Eggert, Director General of EUROFER, said: "This is a game changer for Europe's steel industry. It paves the way for restoring up to 15 million tonnes of lost European steel production. After years of mounting pressure, the EU has recognised that maintaining steel production is fundamental to Europe's competitiveness, security and decarbonisation. The industry was facing the abyss. Today's measure gives us the breathing space to rebuild but it is only the beginning."

Protecting upstream steel production is the first step towards securing Europe's wider manufacturing value chain. Steel-using industries are increasingly exposed to import surges of steel-containing products, making it essential that the new measure is extended downstream. This possibility is already foreseen, and EUROFER stands ready to support the downstream sectors concerned.

While the measure provides an effective response to the immediate trade impact of global overcapacity, its root causes require coordinated international action among like-minded steel-producing economies.

Fair and balanced import allocations

Despite the strengthened safeguards, 18.3 million tonnes of steel imports will continue to enter the EU tariff-free each year. EUROFER stressed that tariff-rate quota allocations should be fair, balanced and reflect established trade flows and highly integrated supply chains.

Axel Eggert added: "This is not about pulling up the drawbridge on steel trade. Europe will remain one of the world's most open steel markets. Tariff-rate quota allocations must be fair and balanced, reflecting long-standing trading relationships and integrated supply chains. That will allow trusted partners to continue supplying the European market while enabling Europe's steel industry to recover and compete."

The next step: building Europe's industrial future

The association underlined that trade measures alone will not secure Europe's industrial future. The next priority is to lower industrial energy costs, accelerate investment in low-carbon steel, create lead markets that reward European production and extend protection to downstream steel-containing products, ensuring that the steel needed for Europe's clean transition is increasingly made in Europe.

Strengthening traceability

The European Commission will close its public consultation on introducing Mill Test Certificates (MTCs) on 2 July.  Producers exporting steel to the EU will be required to provide "melted and poured" information, significantly strengthening traceability by placing responsibility for demonstrating origin with the producer rather than the importer.

Axel Eggert concluded: "Knowing where steel is melted and poured is fundamental to making this measure work. Better traceability will strengthen enforcement, improve transparency and reinforce the integrity of Europe's new trade framework. The responsibility for issuing the certificate should rest with the producer not the importer."

Notes for editors

Contact
David French, Spokesperson and Head of Communications, +32 2 738 79 35, (d.french@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.