The most recent EU safeguard measures

Safeguard measures are temporary measures through which the EU protects its own steel industry against a significant increase in imports. This can be achieved, for example, by setting a ceiling on the volumes that may be imported, with additional import tariffs applying to quantities exceeding that limit. In July 2018, the EU introduced safeguard measures for certain steel products, partly based on concerns that US import tariffs would lead to a shift of steel imports to the European market. These measures have been amended and extended several times and reached their maximum duration of eight years in June 2026.

Since July 2026, a new safeguard regime has been in force, under which import quotas have been reduced and the tariffs on imports exceeding these quotas has been increased from 25 to 50 percent. From 1 October 2026, steel importers must also state the country of melt and pour in their customs declaration.