Europe
Trade defence
Europe's steel wall goes up: how the EU's new quota-and-tariff regime works
On 1 July 2026 the EU replaces its expiring steel safeguard with a tougher tariff-rate-quota regime. Tariff-free imports fall to about 18.3 million tonnes a year, a roughly 47% cut versus 2024, and the duty above quota doubles from 25% to 50% across 30 product categories. Brussels frames it as a response to record Chinese-driven overcapacity. Mills like ArcelorMittal are restarting idled furnaces, but downstream fabricators warn of higher input costs.