Almost double: EU agrees to cut steel imports
14 April 11:17
The European Union will tighten its steel import rules. Representatives of the 27 EU member states and the European Parliament have reached an agreement to significantly reduce the volume of duty-free steel imports, according to a statement posted on the European Parliament’s website, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
In the future, duty-free imports will be capped at 18.3 million tons per year, which is approximately 47% less than the current level. According to a statement by EU member states, any steel imports exceeding these limits will be subject to a 50% tariff, which is double the previous rate.
Protecting European producers
Cheap steel exported to the EU from China, India, and Turkey, among other countries, creates problems for local producers. The new rules are designed to protect the European market from global overproduction, the statement notes.
In addition, the agreement sets quotas for duty-free steel imports from certain third countries. The document also provides that unused quotas may be carried over to subsequent quarters.
For the new rules to take effect, they must be formally approved by EU member states and the European Parliament. The current regulation on steel imports expires on June 30, 2026. The new quotas will not be time-limited, but regular reviews of their effectiveness are planned.
China accounts for half of global steel production
According to data from the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), China produced approximately 961 million tons of steel in 2025, accounting for more than half of global production. By comparison, Germany produced approximately 34 million tons of steel.
As reported by AFP, the European Union, in particular, accuses China of unfairly using state support for its steel industry, leading to a surplus of steel on the global market.
