According to the latest draft regulation, the new EU steel protection regime is due to enter into force on July 1, 2026, and the current protective measures expire on June 30, 2026. The regulation, which came into force after the introduction of protective measures, is designed to ensure continuity and predictability in the EU steel market after the end of the current protective measures, while at the same time allowing adjustments to be made depending on changing market conditions.
According to the draft resolution, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein will be exempt from the measures provided for by the Agreement on the European Economic Area. All other suppliers from third countries will be subject to the new rules as soon as they come into force.
The EU Council noted that the total volume of adjusted quotas should be limited to stay between 15.2 million tons and 22.2 million tons, as previously reported by SteelOrbis. In addition, the Council allowed the transfer of unused volumes of tariff quotas for one quarter to the next quarter during the same annual period of tariff quota application. According to the proposed rules, unused volumes will be available within 20 business days in the next quarter, which provides greater flexibility for importers and market participants.
The European Parliament's Committee on International Trade is expected to vote on the draft at the end of January 2026, paving the way for interagency negotiations between Parliament, the Council and the Commission early next year.
Author: SteelOrbis Editorial Team
Steelorbis.com
