The quotas proposed by the EU may reflect changes in the market
The new quota system proposed by the European Commission earlier this month to replace existing precautionary measures will be dynamic and, in the first stage, will be applied quarterly to 26 categories of goods with the possibility of revision, said Henrique Arrieta, European Commission policy specialist on trade and economic security.
This measure is expected to enter into force in June 2026 with a "relatively immediate" effect, although its long-term impact will be assessed in the light of market developments. "We have implemented mechanisms that will allow the European Commission to adapt measures to different economic scenarios," Arrieta said at the Steel Tech 2025 conference in Bilbao on Wednesday, attended by Callanish
According to the expert, the steel producers have made it clear that they do not want the new import system to apply to semi-finished steel products. "We don't intentionally exclude this category," Arrieta said. "We have a high level of interaction with industry, and we are trying to understand their needs so that the measure better meets them. Therefore, the Commission does not see the need to include anything that the industry itself did not require."
However, Brussels reserves the right to amend product codes subject to the measures, provided there is sufficient evidence and justification to expand their scope.
Regarding the negotiations on the EU-US trade agreement, Arrieta said that there is still no definite date for its signing and that progress will depend "to a large extent on the willingness of American partners."
He added that one of the key requirements for moving forward will be that the countries with which the tariff reduction negotiations are conducted have a solid level of customs protection. "In the past, we have been criticized for our lack of protection. I believe that thanks to the latest proposals of the European Commission, we have demonstrated significant improvement," Arrieta stressed.
Despite the mutual interest and expressions of goodwill, there is still no clear timetable for concluding an agreement.
"We believe that our proposal represents a good starting point, with requirements that allow them to be treated more fairly in their[US]market, which is very important for both them and us," he added.
Todor Kirkov Bulgaria
Kallanish.com