The European Parliament today adopted the new steel import measure, paving the way for its entry into force by 1 July, subject to final approval by EU member states and publication in the official journal.
The regulation, adopted by a large majority, will set tariff-rate quotas of 18.3mn t/yr for steel with an out-of-quota duty set at 50pc for 30 categories of steel products imported to the EU.
The European Commission aims to adopt an implementing act by 1 July setting out specific country quotas. EU commissioner Costas Kadis said "intense" discussions are under way in Geneva with more than 20 trading partners. Around 80pc of EU steel imports come from countries with which it has free-trade agreements (FTAs), he said.
The commission says safeguards must apply equally to all third countries, including candidate countries such as Ukraine and countries with FTAs. Kadis expects global overcapacity to reach 721mn t by next year, more than five times EU annual steel consumption.
Swedish liberal rapporteur Karin Karlsbro criticised the provisions covering Ukrainian steel imports during the parliamentary debate. The commission should help, not punish, Ukraine through the steel safeguards, she said, citing Russian attacks on steelworkers in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro and Kamianske.
"Trade policy should be a tool to keep the Ukrainian economy alive while they are defending us," Karlsbro said.
Kadis said the decision on Ukraine had not been taken "lightly". Ukraine will receive a country-specific quota that ensures continued steel exports to the EU at levels "lower than before the war". But officials will take account of the country's immediate security situation when setting the quota, he said.
French liberal MEP Yvan Verougstraete welcomed the deal for halving import quotas and doubling duties outside tariff-rate quotas. But he called for customs duties on imported cars, saying the use of "cheap, polluting" steel saves Chinese manufacturers €500/car.
Polish far-right Patriots member Anna Brylka blamed the commission for the industry's problems, citing high energy costs, climate policy, decarbonisation and the emissions trading system.
