EU steel industry

Commission welcomes start of trilogue negotiations on steel measure

Published

2 weeks ago

February 26, 2026

EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič represented the European Commission in the first trilogue negotiations on the upcoming steel measure addressing the negative effects of global overcapacity.

The new EU regulation will provide effective protection to the EU’s steel industry from global overcapacity by:

Reducing tariff-free import volumes to 18.3 million tons per year (a 47% cut compared to 2024 quotas);
Doubling out-of-quota duties to 50%;
Covering all origins (except EEA countries), and;
Introducing a 'melt & pour' requirement to improve traceability and transparency of the EU’s steel supply chain.

The proposal addresses the negative effects on the EU’s steel market of unsustainable levels of global overcapacity, which is projected to reach 721 million tons by 2027 (about five times the EU’s yearly consumption): a real threat to our steel industrial base. It also supports the EU’s decarbonisation goals and protects 2.5 million jobs linked to steel production.

The negotiations between the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council will focus on finalising the text swiftly so that the measure can be fully in place by 1 July, when the current safeguard measure will expire.

Once in force, the new measure will provide a solid trade framework for a strong, competitive, and sustainable EU steel sector while maintaining WTO compatibility and continue to engage constructively with global partners on collective solutions.