The European Steel Association (EUROFER) and IndustriAll Europe have urged EU institutions to move up the start date of the upcoming steel trade measure, warning that waiting until June 2026 would expose the sector to dangerous levels of imports.
Industry Under Pressure
The groups stated that Europe’s steel sector is “under water”, citing:
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Persistently weak demand
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Ongoing capacity closures
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Accelerating global overcapacity
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Unfair imports reaching a 27% market share, double the 2012 level
Risk of Stockpiling
Because the measure is expected in 2026, importers are already stockpiling large volumes, potentially undermining the effectiveness of the rule before it even begins.
EUROFER and IndustriAll insist that:
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The measure must start no later than April 1, 2026
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Any delay by Parliament or Council will worsen the crisis
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2026 could become a “lost year” for European steel producers without action
They stressed that the EU must adopt the Commission’s proposal urgently, pair it with a credible industrial strategy, and move quickly to protect the European metals value chain and its workforce.
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