News
December 12
The Council’s mandate strikes a balance that aims to maintain the necessary high level of protection for the European steel industry, which is vital to the EU’s economy and security, while introducing key flexibility and consideration for downstream steel users.
Main changes agreed by the Council
The Council’s mandate maintains the core protective elements of the Commission’s proposal, notably the substantial reduction in import quotas (limiting tariff-free import volumes to 18.3 million tonnes a year, a reduction of 47% compared to 2024 steel quotas) and the doubling of the out-of-quota duty to 50% compared to 25% under the current steel safeguard. At the same time, it incorporates several amendments to increase flexibility, legal clarity and consideration for the economic interests of downstream users.
Downstream industries
The Council has placed a greater focus on balancing the protection of steel producers with the economic interests of steel-using downstream industries, incorporating Union interest as a guiding principle to ensure explicit consideration for all economic operators and final consumers when the Commission allocates tariffs quotas, applies bilateral safeguard measures or amends the volumes of tariff quotas.
The rules on the administration of tariff quotas have been adjusted to ensure greater flexibility. Specifically, the Council allowed for unused tariff quota volumes in one quarter to be carried over to the next quarter within the same yearly period of application of the tariff rate quota.
Council has also added a new element for consideration when quotas are amended ensuring attention on the potential substantial price increases seriously undermining the competitiveness of downstream industries.
