New EU safeguards on steel imports from third countries

From 1 July, Regulation (EU) 2026/1384 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishes a new regulatory framework replacing the safeguard measure under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159, which applied until 30 June 2026.

Its aim is to tackle the negative effects of global excess capacity in the EU steel market.

Substantial reduction of tariff rate quotas (TRQs) and doubling of the out-of-quota duty

The new system revises the tariff quota arrangements governing steel imports into the EU and introduces the following measures to discourage excessive imports while maintaining controlled market access for traditional suppliers:

• reduces the total volume of duty-free import quotas by approximately 47% compared to the 2024 reference system,
• increases the out-of-quota duty to 50%, as set out in Annex II, which significantly raises the cost of imports exceeding the allocated volumes.

Expansion of the number of covered product categories

The current measure covers 28 product categories. Under the new regulation, this number increases to the 30 categories listed in Annex I, identified by CN codes. The EU Parliament specifically proposed adding stainless wire rod and forged bars, both non-alloy and other alloy.

By 30 June 2027, the Commission will assess whether the scope should be extended to products made from steel or containing a significant amount of steel that are not currently included in Annex I.

Exclusion of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

Imports of originating products from these three countries are excluded from the application of the tariff rate quotas and the out-of-quota duty, by virtue of their integration into the European Economic Area (EEA).

Products from countries subject to bilateral safeguard measures agreed under free trade agreements concluded with the EU are also excluded from these quotas.

Transfer of unused quotas (carry-over)

The Commission's initial proposal did not provide for any carry-over: volumes unused within a quarter were forfeited. The final text adopts an intermediate approach: during the first year of application of the Regulation, tariff quota volumes not used within a quarter shall be transferred to the following quarter within the same annual application period, in order to provide greater flexibility for economic operators and help ensure supply chain continuity and fulfilment of existing supply contracts.

After the first year of application, it may be necessary to adjust the rules on the transfer of unused quotas, considering market behaviour and the need to address potential market disruptions.

In addition, when the average use of tariff quotas for a given product category exceeds 80% during the first three quarters of the annual period, carry-over shall be permitted.

Identification of the country of melt and pour (the "melt and pour" principle)

At the time of importation, importers of products subject to the quotas must submit adequate and verifiable evidence — such as a mill certificate — to demonstrate the country in which the raw steel or iron was initially produced in liquid form and subsequently cast to reach its first solid state (hereinafter, the "country of melt and pour").

This requirement does not directly determine the country-specific allocation of quotas; rather, its purpose is to increase supply chain transparency for steel imports and allow the Commission to obtain reliable information on the origin of steel imported into the EU.

End of the exemption for Russian steel slabs and special treatment of Ukraine

The regulation also introduces two significant changes regarding these two countries currently engaged in armed conflict:

• it removes the exemption that previously permitted the importation of steel slabs from Russia, following Parliament's insistence that no product of steel melted or cast in Russia or Belarus should have access to any quota;
• Ukraine's situation — with an exemption under the current safeguard that was due to remain in force until summer 2028, and as a candidate country for EU accession with particular security concerns — will be taken into account when allocating country-specific quotas.

Review and next steps

The following steps in the implementation of the regulation are:

Further information

• Regulation (EU) 2026/1384 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2026 on addressing the negative trade-related effects of global excess capacity in the Union steel market and amending Regulation (EU) 2020/2170
• DG TRADE – Safeguard measures
• EU Press corner: Questions and answers on the Commission's plan to protect EU steel industry from unfair impacts of global overcapacity