The European Union will cut steel import quotas to reduce imports by an additional 15% starting next April, a move aimed at preventing cheap steel from flooding the European market after Washington imposed new tariffs.

“At a time when no one respects WTO rules and everyone resorts to national security, the EU cannot be the only continent allowing its industry to collapse,” said European Commission Executive Vice President Stéphane Sejourn.

The European Commission will propose a set of trade-related measures to boost the struggling metals industry as part of a new European Steel and Metals Action Plan. A draft of the plan shows the EU is considering imposing import restrictions.

The Commission will also introduce new measures in the third quarter to replace the enhanced safeguards, which, under WTO rules, cannot be extended beyond June 30, 2026.

Sigourn said the new mechanism will be more stringent following industry appeals since July 2019, with import quota volumes increasing by more than 25% as the EU complies with WTO rules.

In 2024, the EU imported approximately 60 million tons of steel, of which 30 million tons were within the duty-free quota.