The Royal Netherlands Steel Federation (Koninklijke Staalfederatie) said that differences in the application of customs rules in EU countries create unequal conditions for importers of stainless steel.
In a publication dated October 22, the federation reports that its members note a different approach to import duties and quotas in Italy and Spain compared to the Netherlands. In some EU countries, it may be easier for importers to access current quotas, which risks higher import costs for Dutch companies.
According to the federation, the consequences may affect not only individual importers, but also the entire steel supply chain, manufacturing enterprises and the position of the Netherlands as an import center.
Staalfederatie conveyed the concerns of its participants to the Dutch business organizations FME and VNO-NCW and filed a complaint about differences in the application of import rules. The Federation is also seeking clarification through the Customs and business consultation platform Overleg Douane Bedrijfsleven (ODB).
Together with the participants, the federation is preparing a dossier that will identify the affected goods and types of metal, trade volumes, and financial implications. It is planned to consider about 26 product groups.
For the European steel trade and distribution sector, this situation highlights the importance of transparent procedures and uniform application of customs regulations throughout the EU. Common European standards should provide companies with fair and predictable conditions in the single market.
The original publication by Koninklijke Staalfederatie is in Dutch.