The European Commission has initiated a targeted consultation process to identify future measures to protect the EU steel sector from unfair trade practices and the negative effects of global steel overcapacities. This move comes as the current EU steel safeguard measure is set to expire on June 30, 2026. The Commission aims to gather expertise from sectoral stakeholders to devise an effective replacement, reflecting the industry's critical importance to the EU economy.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized the steel industry as a core engine for European prosperity, and the Competitiveness Compass for the EU, adopted in January 2025, identified steel and metals as a key area for action. The Strategic Dialogue on Steel, held in March 2025, further highlighted the urgent challenges faced by the sector, particularly the flow of Chinese steel overcapacities. A Steel and Metals Action Plan adopted in March 2025 outlined various policy areas, including trade, with a commitment to propose a new measure replacing the steel safeguards by the third quarter of 2025.
The current safeguard measure, first introduced in 2019 and extended for two years in June 2024, was deemed necessary to prevent serious injury to the EU's steel industry. The consultation period will run until August 18, 2025, allowing stakeholders across the steel value chain to provide input on potential scenarios. The Commission will then review this feedback to inform its legislative proposal, aiming to ensure a highly effective level of protection against trade-related distortions caused by global overcapacities. This proactive approach underscores the EU's commitment to bolstering its steel industry against external pressures.
