Eurofer calls for strengthened EU response to US steel tariffs

The European Steel Association (EUROFER) has expressed concerns over the recent imposition of a 25% blanket tariff on steel imports by the United States. The association warns that these measures exacerbate the already challenging market conditions for the European steel industry and could have long-term implications for its stability. EUROFER is urging the European Union to revise its steel safeguard measures to mitigate the impact of the U.S. tariffs and protect the sector.

Impact on the European Steel Industry

The new tariffs remove all previously negotiated product exemptions and Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) for the EU, further restricting export opportunities. Since the introduction of earlier U.S. tariffs under Section 232, EU steel exports to the U.S. had already declined by over 1 million tonnes. The latest measures are expected to lead to an additional reduction of at least 1 million tonnes, with derivative steel products also subject to tariffs, further affecting another 1 million tonnes of EU steel exports.

Moreover, the tariffs are set against a backdrop of record global steel overcapacity, which reached unprecedented levels in 2024 and is expected to grow in 2025. This situation increases the risk of steel originally intended for the U.S. market being redirected to the EU, exacerbating existing challenges posed by low-cost imports from Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. In 2024 alone, the European steel sector lost 9 million tonnes of production capacity and 18,000 jobs, and the current developments place further pressure on the industry.

EUROFER’s Call for Action

Dr. Henrik Adam, President of EUROFER, emphasized the need for a strong EU response:

"Simply put, while all other countries – today the U.S. – protect their national steel production, the EU has had the most vulnerable market in the world. Our producers already face the highest energy prices while having the highest climate ambition. Meanwhile, they are being undercut by cheaper, more carbon intensive foreign imports."

The European Commission has committed to revising its steel safeguard measures by April 1, in response to concerns over global overcapacity, trade distortions, and the risk of market flooding following the new U.S. tariffs.

Source and Photo: Eurofer