The European Steel Association Eurofer has asked the European Commission to extend the protective quotas for imports of steel products after June 2021.
The Association is also asking to initiate a "transparent review" of the measures, said Yuriy Rudyuk, partner of the law firm Van Bael & Bellis.
Rudyuk expects that the likely outcome of the request will be less stringent measures to avoid claims for compensation from countries affected by quotas if they have been in effect for more than three years.
Safeguards were first introduced in 2018 after the United States imposed protective duties on steel imports from around the world based on national security concerns. But the change in the US administration, which is to take place in January, could lead to a change in the US position on this questionable issue from the point of view of WTO rules, which could affect the decision of the commission.
"If EU safeguards are lifted at the end of June 2021, several categories of goods will be at higher risk due to anti-dumping and anti-subsidy actions," Rudyuk said.
One such critical case is the investigation into the dumping and subsidization of Turkish hot rolled coil. The final decision on the anti-dumping investigation will be announced by July 13, 2021, and the interim measure will be in effect until January 14. The Commission began registering imports from Turkey on November 13, which allows it to impose duties retroactively, as well as on materials cleared from customs between November 14 and January 14. The determination of the possible retroactive duty will be announced after the decision to introduce the final duty in July is made, but the European Commission documents indicate the amount within 8%.
