“Economic aggression” or a market dispute: Poland calls for restrictions on Ukrainian steel imports
29 December 2025 17:37
The debate over imports of Ukrainian steel products has once again escalated in Poland. Sejm deputy Michal Poluboczek said that Ukrainian steel companies could pose a threat to Polish producers and called for the abolition of trade preferences for them and the introduction of anti-dumping measures.
The politician wrote about this in the social network X, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Accusations of dumping
Polubochek claims that the Ukrainian government’s decision to limit scrap metal exports creates a shortage of raw materials for European steel mills and at the same time gives an advantage to Ukrainian mills.
“Ukraine, under pressure from oligarchs and steel monopolies, is imposing a ban on scrap metal exports, which hits the Polish and European steel industries,” he wrote.
According to him, as a result, Polish plants are losing raw materials and risking jobs, while Ukrainian producers are allegedly preparing to supply steel to the EU at prices 20-25% below market prices.
“This is not free trade, this is economic aggression,” the MP said.
Calls for tough measures
Poluboczek emphasized that, in his opinion, support for Ukraine should not come at the expense of the Polish economy.
“We do not agree to a situation where Poland bears the costs of war, reconstruction and “solidarity”, but in return receives dumping, corruption and violation of market rules,” he said.
His proposals include putting pressure on the European Commission, abolishing trade exemptions for the Ukrainian steel industry and introducing real anti-dumping mechanisms. The MP emphasized that such demands are not “anti-Ukrainian” but part of the state economic policy.
Position of the Ukrainian side
The Ukrainian Association of Secondary Metals reported that the government is considering setting a zero quota for the export of ferrous scrap next year, which would effectively mean a complete ban on exports.
At the same time, the association warns that such a ban could violate Ukraine’s international obligations under the World Trade Organization and the Association Agreement with the EU.
The Ukrainian side also rejects allegations of dumping, emphasizing that steel exports remain below the pre-war level of 2021 and do not pose a systemic threat to Polish producers.
According to Eurostat, in the first seven months of 2025, Ukrainian steel exports to Poland increased by 19% compared to the same period in 2024. However, these volumes are not record-breaking in historical terms.
Ukraine’s share in Polish steel imports is 14.7%, while Germany remains the largest supplier with 27%. This casts doubt on the claim that Ukrainian products dominate the Polish market.
