The European Commission has published a regulation setting up provisional safeguard measures on imports of steel products, which will cover the diversion of steel from other countries to the EU market as a result of the duties recently imposed by the United States. Safeguard measures came into force on 19 July 2018.
Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said: “The US duties on steel products are at the origin of the diversion of trade, which can seriously damage EU steelmakers and workers in the sector. We have no other choice but to impose provisional safeguards measures to protect EU industry from increased imports. Measures that ensure that the EU market remains open and that they will maintain traditional trade flows. I am convinced that they ensure the right balance between the interests of the EU and those of steel users, such as the automotive industry and the construction sector, which depend on imports. We will continue to monitor steel imports in order to make a final decision by the beginning of next year.”
Provisional measures cover 23 categories of steel products and are established in the form of a tariff quota. 25% tariffs will only be applied when imports exceed the quota. In line with the rules of the World Trade Organization, the measures concern imports from all countries. Derogations are provided for some developing countries and for the countries of the European Economic Area: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Provisional measures may remain in force for up to 200 days. Following further investigations, which will continue until the end of 2018, definitive safeguard measures may be imposed.
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2018/1013
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