8 October 2025 – With the draft regulation for a new Safeguard successor presented yesterday, the EU aims to turn economic reality back to 2013. The proposal would effectively amount to an import ban for many steel origins. At the same time, at least 30% of all steel imports – over 8 million tonnes – that benefit only European steel producers are excluded from the protection measure.
Steel tariffs: EU seeks to enforce an import ban
With yesterday’s presentation of the draft regulation for the successor to the EU Safeguard measure, set to expire in mid-2026, Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné once again demonstrated their lack of economic understanding.
Commission wants to roll the economy back to 2013
By proposing to reset the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) to the import levels of 2013, both officials have ignored the fact that Europe’s manufacturing industry has increased its value creation by more than 51% since then. With the combination of existing trade-defence measures, CBAM, TRQs and 50% tariffs, the Commission has effectively engineered an import ban – while insisting that the EU still “stands for free trade”.
De facto import ban for certain origins
Under the draft regulation, TRQs would be cut by 47% overall (in some product categories even by 2/3 more), and out-of-quota tariffs raised to 50%. Existing anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties would apply from the very first tonne imported and increase by 50 percentage points once quotas are filled – on top of CBAM charges. Again: This amounts to an import ban for several origins. Open trade looks very different.
Other alarming elements for Europeans manufacturing industry
- Over 8 million tonnes of semi-finished steel products (slabs, billets, blooms) remain exempt – together with the 18 million tonnes in TRQs, more than 30 % of all imports will still enter freely, allowing EU mills to circumvent their own protectionist measures.
- The Commission plans to skip a full impact assessment on the economic effects, especially for SMEs, claiming there is “no time” – although the expiry of Safeguard in 2026 has been known for eight years.
- During the press conference, Commissioner Šefčovič was asked why the other countries’ tariffs were bad and those of the European Union were now good. The Commissioner immediately became evasive and flustered, dismissing the question curtly (and preferring to hear positive questions from the press expressing support for the measure).
- Pressure was already placed on Member States and the Parliament to approve the proposal quickly, a standard tactic to avoid scrutiny.
- Key facts were simply omitted – for instance, that the EU will have to pay a high price for these tariffs and quotas in other sectors, through concessions to affected trading partners (see our report from yesterday).
The manufacturing industry must speak up – now
This proposal is nothing less than a declaration of war on Europe’s SMEs and importers. The silence of SME and importer associations so far is astonishing. A strong and immediate reaction is essential.
Take the initiative now!
Take the initiative now and take action against this Commission proposal. Write to your MEPs, write to the European Commission. Flood the official bodies in the EU with your concerns and criticism of this proposal.
Not sure how? Then feel free to contact us: pr@steelnews.biz or +49 7642 9282851. With our support, it will take you less than 15 minutes. We believe it is worth your while to stand up not only for fair trade, but also for entrepreneurial self-determination in small and medium-sized businesses!
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