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EUROFER request for a continuation of the EU steel safeguard regime after three years of application
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If the EU Steel Safeguard measures end in June 2021, the EU steel industry will again be fully exposed to high volumes of cheap deflected steel imports – particularly for as long as the United States Section 232 measures continue.
In short, the US Section 232 measure is a trigger, but the broader problem is persistent global overcapacity and proliferation of steel trade actions worldwide and has worsened because of the Covid-19 crisis.
The EU steel market, with its zero import tariff, is by far the biggest import market in the world (40 million tonnes of imports in 2019 followed by the U.S. with 27 million tonnes).
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Brussels, 05 June 2025 – The high level of uncertainty and major disruptions caused by the new U.S. tariffs have dealt a severe blow to recovery expectations in the steel market for 2025. Against the backdrop of broader economic resilience driven by services, industry remains weak, weighing on steel demand and consumption. Recovery is not expected before 2026, and only if positive developments emerge in the global geoeconomic outlook. According to EUROFER’s latest Economic and Steel Market Outlook, the recession in apparent steel consumption will continue in 2025 (-0.9%) for the fourth consecutive year (-1.1% in 2024), contrary to earlier forecasts of growth (+2.2%). A similar trend is expected for steel-using sectors, with another recession in 2025 (-0.5%, after -3.7% in 2024) instead of a projected recovery (+1.6%). Steel imports remained at historically high levels (27%) throughout 2024.
Second quarter 2025 report. Data up to, and including, fourth quarter 2024
Brussels, 4 June 2025 – With U.S. blanket tariffs now raised to 50%, the only way to avoid the further erosion of the European steel market and another blow to European steelmakers is the swift implementation of the “highly effective trade measure” promised by the European Commission in its Steel and Metals Action Plan. A negotiated solution between the EU and the U.S. is also vital to preserve EU steel exports to the U.S., warns the European Steel Association.
The European Steel Association (EUROFER)
172 Avenue de Cortenbergh
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Email: mail@eurofer.eu
Phone: +32 (0) 2 738 79 20
