Brussels / Berlin, 15 October 2025 – The European Commission’s new draft regulation on the successor to the EU Safeguard Measure on certain steel products is triggering strong criticism from European industry representatives. According to Gerber Group, the proposal presented on 7 October 2025 poses an existential threat to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe.
What is being presented as industrial protection will, in reality, destroy Europe’s industrial backbone
“What is being presented as industrial protection will, in reality, destroy Europe’s industrial backbone,” warns Thorsten Gerber, CEO of Gerber Group. “The Commission is basing its proposal on false assumptions about overcapacity, has skipped an essential economic impact assessment, and is placing the burden entirely on SMEs, the very companies that keep Europe’s economy running.”
The Commission’s plan foresees doubling import tariffs on steel to 50% and cutting import quotas (TRQs) by 45%. According to the company’s analysis, this would effectively exclude SMEs from the steel market, while a handful of large corporations would dominate access to remaining quotas.
If implemented, the measure could raise production costs by up to 30% for the European manufacturing sector, especially in Central and Eastern European countries. Industries such as automotive, construction and mechanical engineering would be hit hardest.
Gerber Group calls on the European Parliament and Member States to act immediately:
“Europe must protect those who carry it – its SMEs,” Gerber urges. “The proposed regulation must be stopped in its current form, and a full, transparent impact assessment must be conducted. SMEs need a guaranteed exemption from tariffs and quotas to maintain access to competitively priced steel.”
The company’s Position Paper “Successor to the EU Safeguard Measure on Certain Steel Products” has been submitted to the European Parliament and the German Bundestag. It calls for an SME exemption, a review of the Commission’s data on steel overcapacity, and a full impact assessment to ensure supply security and fair competition.
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