Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/612 of 24 March 2025 amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 imposing a definitive safeguard measure on imports of certain steel products
Date: 2025-03-24
Institutions: Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, European Commission
Subjects: import (EU), iron and steel product, originating product, surveillance concerning imports, tariff quota, third country




L_202500612EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/612


25.3.2025







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/612
of 24 March 2025
         
amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 imposing a definitive safeguard measure on imports of certain steel products


THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2015/478 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015 on common rules for imports (1), and in particular Articles 16 and 20 thereof,


Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2015/755 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on common rules for imports from certain third countries (2), and in particular Articles 13 and 16 thereof,

Whereas:
1.   Background







(1)


By Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 (3) (‘the Definitive Regulation’), the European Commission (‘the Commission’) imposed a definitive safeguard measure on certain steel imports (‘the measure’). The measure consists of tariff-rate quotas (‘TRQs’) with respect to certain steel products (‘the product concerned’), covering 26 steel product categories. The TRQs are set at levels preserving traditional trade flows on a per-product-category basis. Where the relevant TRQ is exhausted, an out-of-quota duty of 25 % is levied. The safeguard measure was imposed for an initial period of three years, until 30 June 2021.










(2)


By Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1029 (4) (‘the First Prolongation Review Regulation’), the Commission concluded that the measure continued to be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury, and that the Union industry was adjusting. It also concluded that the prolongation of the measure was in the interest of the Union. Accordingly, it decided to prolong the safeguard measure until 30 June 2024.










(3)


By Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1782 (5) (‘the Second Prolongation Review Regulation’), the Commission concluded that the prolongation of the measure was necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury, and that such prolongation was in the interest of the Union. It also concluded that the industry was adjusting. Accordingly, it decided to prolong the safeguard measure until 30 June 2026.










(4)


In recital (161) of the Definitive Regulation, the Commission committed to “carry out an assessment of the situation on a regular basis and consider a review at least at the end of each year of imposition of measures”. In this spirit, the Commission conducted three functioning review investigations in 2019 (6), 2020 (7) and 2022 (8) respectively. In June 2023 (9) it also assessed, in a review investigation, whether an early termination of the measure was warranted (10).










(5)


On 29 November 2024, the Commission received a substantiated request by thirteen Member States to initiate a functioning review pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 of the European Parliament and of the Council (11) (‘EU Basic Safeguard Regulation’) and Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2015/755 of the European Parliament and of the Council (12). The request contained evidence of a change of circumstances since the last review of the measure. In particular, the request contained information regarding the contraction in Union demand for steel, resulting in widening gaps with the current level of duty-free quota volumes as these have been continuously liberalised. Moreover, China’s steel export surges to major regions have pushed exports from other markets to the EU.










(6)


According to the request, these recent market developments called for a reassessment of the allocation and management of the TRQs. In view of Article 20 of the EU Basic Safeguard Regulation and Article 8 of the Definitive Regulation, the Commission considered that the information provided, including the sources and supporting evidence, constitute a sufficient basis to initiate an investigation.










(7)


Accordingly, the Commission initiated a functioning review investigation by means of a Notice of Initiation (13) (‘the Notice’) published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 17 December 2024. The Commission invited interested parties to make their views known and submit evidence concerning, in particular, the following grounds of review:






(a)


allocation and management of tariff-rate quotas;










(b)


crowding out of traditional trade flows;










(c)


update of the list of developing WTO Member countries excluded from the scope of the measures based on their most recent level of imports (the year 2024);










(d)


the level of liberalisation; and










(e)


other changes of circumstances that may require an adjustment to the level or allocation of the tariff-rate quota.








2.   Procedure







(8)


The Notice invited interested parties to provide evidence and data to determine whether it would be justified to adjust the functioning of the safeguard measure in order to keep the operation of the safeguard adapted to market evolution and in line with the interest of all stakeholders.










(9)


The Commission sought specific information from Union producers and users via questionnaires, which were made available to interested parties on the public file (‘TRON’) (14) as well as on the European Commission’s (DG TRADE) website (15).










(10)


As in previous review investigations, the Commission devised a two-stage written procedure. First, parties had the possibility to send their submissions and where applicable, a reply to the questionnaires by 10 January 2025. The Commission made this information available on the public file and interested parties had 14 days to make comments (rebuttals phase). The Commission subsequently made the rebuttals available in TRON.










(11)


The Commission received 12 questionnaire replies, 40 submissions and 22 rebuttals.





Comments from interested parties







(12)


Multiple interested parties commented that neither the request from Member States for a functioning review, nor the underlying evidence was made immediately available to interested parties. An argument has been made that this has unduly restricted interested parties’ opportunity to rebut the evidence, and significantly impacted the ability of interested parties to provide meaningful contributions.










(13)


Some interested parties argued that there is no legal basis for a functioning review, and others argued that conducting a functioning review based on changed circumstances is inconsistent with WTO law. One interested party mentioned that conducting a reassessment of the TRQs within six months from the previous review amounts to excessive frequency of reviewing the measure.





Commission position







(14)


In the Notice of Initiation, parties were specifically invited to share their views and submit evidence concerning five grounds of review (see recital 7 above), rather than commenting on the initial request from Member States. Following a written request for information received on 3 January 2025 (16), the Commission has made the relevant documents available for inspection on TRON on 7 January 2025, as provided for in Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) 2015/478. (17) Additionally, parties have had the chance to respond to the evidence brought forward by the Union industry in their rebuttals, for which they have received 14 days. Some interested parties requested an extension, and in two cases an extension of 10 days was given. As such, interested parties have been afforded ample opportunity to provide their comments.










(15)


As per the Notice of Initiation, the legal basis for the review is Article 20 of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2015/755 and Article 8 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159. The latter explicitly provides that the Commission may review the measure in case of changed circumstances. The WTO Safeguard Agreement does not preclude such (optional) reviews besides the mandatory mid-term review.










(16)


In response to the claim that conducting a reassessment of the TRQs within six months of the previous review constitutes excessive frequency, said Article 8 does not impose any time-based restrictions on when a review may be initiated. Since the purpose of the functioning review is to keep the operation of the safeguard adapted to market evolution and in line with the interests of all stakeholders, there is no time bar as to when such a review is warranted.










(17)


Therefore, the timing of the current functioning review is fully consistent with the legal framework of the EU and international obligations under WTO law.




3.   Assessment of the steel market







(18)


In identifying the need and extent of possible adjustments, the Commission also assessed the evolution, since the last review investigation, of two key elements: overcapacity and trade measures in third countries.




3.1.   Overcapacity







(19)


The situation of overcapacity continued deteriorating in the second half of 2024 and early 2025. By the end of 2024, it was estimated that the global installed capacity reached 2 482 million tonnes, representing an increase of more than 50 million tonnes compared to 2023 (18). This increase was concentrated in India, ASEAN and Middle East. Such relevant increase in capacity took place in a context of weakening global steel demand. In 2024, global steel demand went down by 1 % (-18 million tonnes) compared to 2023 (19), therefore widening the gap with installed capacity further.










(20)


Going forward, significant additional capacity is expected to come on stream, with around 145 million tonnes either as ongoing or planned projects (20), while demand in 2025 is only expected to grow moderately, reaching 2023 levels, i.e. still outpaced by the sustained growth in capacity. As a result, the level of overcapacity is set to remain at very high levels. Estimates indicate that the gap between installed capacity and production may reach 630 million tonnes in 2026 (21).










(21)


The concerns about the deteriorating situation of overcapacity and its negative impact on steelmakers were clearly reflected in the Global Steel Forum's Ministerial Statement of 8 October 2024 (22). The statement recalled the severe negative impact that overcapacity had on jobs, production, prices, market share, revenue and profitability of the industry, and recognised the importance to take concrete actions to address overcapacity.










(22)


In this context of growing overcapacity, the Commission confirmed that Chinese steel exports continued to increase, reaching 110 million tonnes, close to record levels (23). Since the market outlook indicates a further reduction in domestic demand in China in 2025 (24), it is to be expected that the trend of high level of exports that started in 2023 and peaked in 2024, will continue.










(23)


It is thus reasonable to expect that Chinese exports will continue exerting very strong pressure, both in terms of volumes and prices, across third country markets (25), thus impacting negatively competitors in those markets directly, e.g. by displacing them or by forcing them to compete against lower prices. In addition, since steelmakers in certain third countries are seeing a further gap between demand and capacity growth in their domestic markets, they would be pushed into seeking alternative outlets for their excess capacity. As a result, additional import pressure into the Union market from these origins would take place. This would add to the overall increasing level of imports’ market share seen in 2024 in the Union market.










(24)


In this regard, the Commission further confirmed that since the last investigation, the import presence in the Union market of some origins where relevant capacity expansions continue (notably ASEAN, India, China, Middle East and North Africa), remains high and in some cases, has increased even further. This data showed a correlation between capacity developments and level of import pressure from those origins on the Union market (26).










(25)


Therefore, the Commission confirmed that the situation and outlook of global overcapacity continue to be very worrying and expected it to lead, in the absence of adjustments, to further increased import pressure in the Union, due to increasing capacity, demand evolution and persistent pressure on third country markets.




3.2.   Third country measures, including US Section 232







(26)


The Commission also assessed the latest developments concerning trade measures on steel imports adopted by third countries. The Commission confirmed that the number of trade defence measures in place at the end of 2024 exceeded those in place the year before.










(27)


Beyond trade defence measures, the Commission observed that the tariff measures in place had increased since the previous review investigation. These measures included, amongst others, increased tariffs in Türkiye (27), Colombia (28) and Canada (29). In addition to safeguard measures on certain steel products in South Africa (30), and the initiation of a safeguard investigation on certain flat steel products by India. (31)











(28)


Furthermore, on 10 February 2025, the US announced the termination of previous country exclusions, product exemptions as well as of specific TRQ or quota regimes under the Section 232 measure (32). As a result of this change to the measure, all origins would in principle be subject to a 25 % duty. Given the size of the US market and the level of duty, the Commission considers that this development (33), together with the additional tariff measures implemented by other countries, would create further tensions on the steel markets, thus increasing the risks of additional trade diversion into the Union.




3.3.   Economic situation of the Union steel industry







(29)


In order to assess the economic situation of the Union steel industry, the Commission issued questionnaires to the known Union steel producers to collect information on certain injury indicators for the product concerned during the period considered. The questionnaires were also made available on the website of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade. (34) All the relevant instructions regarding questionnaires were also included in the Notice of Initiation.










(30)


The Commission received questionnaire replies from members of the three known Union industry associations as well as from other Union producers not members of any association.










(31)


The Commission consolidated the data directly received from Union producers individually and crosschecked its accuracy with the dataset submitted by the Union industry associations in dedicated remote crosscheck sessions. The Commission then merged the association members’ replies with the replies received from producers not members of an association into a single consolidated dataset, which constituted the basis for the assessment of the economic situation of the Union industry.










(32)


The evolution of the injury indicators between years 2021 and 2024 is shown in Tables 1 to 3 below:




(a)   Production, production capacity and capacity utilisation


Table 1


Production, production capacity and capacity utilisation










in 000 tonnes


2021


2022


2023


2024




Production volume of the product concerned


182 624 


162 958 


158 076 


149 754 





index 2021 = 100




100 




89 




87 




82 





Production capacity for the product concerned


234 706 


233 437 


234 790 


223 297 





index 2021 = 100




100 




99 




100 




95 





Capacity utilisation


78  %


70  %


67  %


67  %











Source:



Industry data and questionnaire replies.














(33)


Over the period considered, the production volume of Union producers steadily decreased by -11 % in 2022, by -13 % in 2023 and by –18 % in 2024, when compared to 2021. Capacity utilisation followed a declining trend, reaching a very low level of 67 % in 2023 and remained at the same level in 2024, despite a decrease in capacity of 5 % in 2024.




(b)   Union consumption, domestic sales and market share (35)


Table 2


Union consumption, domestic sales and market share










 


2021


2022


2023


2024




Consumption in 000 tonnes


166 514 


153 082 


144 227 


143 858 





index 2021 = 100




100 




92 




86 




86 





Domestic sales in 000 tonnes


132 694 


121 559 


115 994 


113 606 





index 2021 = 100




100 




92 




87 




86 





Market share in %


79,7  %


79,4  %


80,5  %


79,0  %











Source:



Industry data and questionnaire replies














(34)


Consumption in the Union market started decreasing in 2022 (-8 %), this trend continued in 2023 (-14 %) and remained at the same level in 2024 (–14 %) when compared to the year 2021. The evolution of domestic sales volume by Union producers followed a very similar trend during the period considered (-8 % in 2022, -13 % in 2023 and -14 % in 2024 when compared to 2021). During the period considered, the Union industry’s market share decreased by 0,7 %.




(c)   Unit sales price, profitability


Table 3


Unit sales price and profitability










 


2021


2022


2023


2024




Unit sales price (EUR/tonne)


935 


1 253 


1 046 


945 





index 2021 = 100




100 




134 




112 




101 





Profitability (% turnover)


9,1  %


9,9  %


0,5  %


–0,4  %











Source:



Industry data and questionnaire replies














(35)


Unit sales prices increased in 2022 by 34 %, increased in 2023 by 12 % and in 2024 by 1 % when compared to 2021.










(36)


The increase in prices and post-COVID recovery drive turned the Union industry into profit-making in 2021 (9,1 %) with profits slightly increasing in 2022 (9,9 %). In 2023 profitability sharply declined, reaching only a 0,5 % profit and the trend continued in 2024 turning into loss-making (–0,4 %).





Conclusion







(37)


The negative trend observed in 2023 continued into 2024 with injury indicators further deteriorating or remaining at the lower levels of 2023.





Additional analysis per product family







(38)


Following the approach of the original investigation, (36) the Commission also assessed the evolution of injury indicators per product family. (37) The product families covered by the steel safeguard are flat products, long products and tubes.










(39)


Tables 4 to 6 below show the evolution of the injury indicators per product family:

Table 4


Production, production capacity and capacity utilisation










in 000 tonnes


2021


2022


2023


2024




Production volume of the product concerned (flat)


141 255 853 


125 606 710 


122 674 835 


114 335 970 





index 2021 = 100




100 




89 




87 




81 





Production volume of the product concerned (long)


35 975 381 


31 667 548 


29 983 962 


30 597 326 





index 2021 = 100




100 




88 




83 




85 





Production volume of the product concerned (tubes)


5 626 178 


5 907 604 


5 615 846 


4 962 746 





index 2021 = 100




100 




105 




100 




88 





 




Production capacity for the product concerned (flat)


176 870 680 


175 916 855 


176 610 299 


164 012 871 





index 2021 = 100




100 




99 




100 




93 





Production capacity for the product concerned (long)


48 425 081 


48 106 404 


48 945 625 


49 928 080 





index 2021 = 100




100 




99 




101 




103 





Production capacity for the product concerned (tubes)


9 963 732 


9 972 089 


9 898 231 


10 015 186 





index 2021 = 100




100 




100 




99 




101 





 




Capacity utilisation (flat)


79,86  %


71,40  %


69,46  %


69,71  %




Capacity utilisation (long)


74,69  %


66,63  %


61,43  %


61,28  %




Capacity utilisation (tubes)


56,47  %


59,24  %


56,74  %


49,55  %











Source:



Industry data and questionnaire replies









Table 5


Union consumption, domestic sales and market share










 


2021


2022


2023


2024




Consumption in 000 tonnes (flat)


96 261 


88 266 


85 048 


83 947 





index 2021 = 100




100 




92 




88 




87 





Consumption in 000 tonnes (long)


57 587 


53 236 


48 160 


48 792 





index 2021 = 100




100 




92 




84 




85 





Consumption in 000 tonnes (tubes)


12 214 


11 117 


10 570 


11 106 





index 2021 = 100




100 




91 




87 




91 





 




Domestic sales in 000 tonnes (flat)


72 426 


66 567 


65 029 


62 445 





index 2021 = 100




100 




92 




90 




86 





Domestic sales in 000 tonnes (long)


50 199 


45 525 


42 186 


42 542 





index 2021 = 100




100 




91 




84 




85 





Domestic sales in 000 tonnes (tubes)


9 553 


8 925 


8 379 


8 672 





index 2021 = 100




100 




93 




88 




91 





 




Market share in % (flat)


75,2  %


75,4  %


76,5  %


74,4  %




Market share in % (long)


87,2  %


85,5  %


87,6  %


87,2  %




Market share in % (tubes)


78,2  %


80,3  %


79,3  %


78,1  %











Source:



Industry data and questionnaire replies









Table 6


Unit sales price and profitability










 


2021


2022


2023


2024




Unit sales price (EUR/tonne) (flat)


986 


1 315 


1 100 


1 008 





index 2021 = 100




100 




133 




112 




102 





Unit sales price (EUR/tonne) (long)


782 


1 052 


852 


772 





index 2021 = 100




100 




135 




109 




99 





Unit sales price (EUR/tonne) (tubes)


1 227 


1 658 


1 507 


1 212 





index 2021 = 100




100 




135 




123 




99 





 




Profitability (% turnover) (flat)


10,4  %


10,5  %


0,0  %


–0,5  %




Profitability (% turnover) (long)


7,1  %


9,2  %


0,3  %


–1,5  %




Profitability (% turnover) (tubes)


3,7  %


6,6  %


6,1  %


4,5  %











Source:



Industry data and questionnaire replies


















(40)


Based on the above indicators, the analysis per product family, corroborates the findings for the product concerned: the Union industry’s economic situation significantly worsened over the period considered and it is currently in a fragile situation. Even the product family tubes, which showed a better performance as regards profitability and market share developments, nevertheless saw a deterioration of other key indicators such as capacity utilisation, levels of production and domestic sales over the period considered.





Import pressure, evolution of imports and market share







(41)


The Commission assessed the evolution of imports, both in overall terms and relative to consumption, to determine the extent of pressure they may have exerted on the Union market in the period considered.










(42)


Imports into the Union in 2024 decreased by -11 % as compared to 2021, when they had reached the second highest level since 2013 (38). Yet, there was an absolute increase of 7 % between 2023 and 2024.

Table 7


Evolution of imports in 000 tonnes










 


2021


2022


2023


2024




Volume of imports 000 tonnes


33 886 


31 604 


28 186 


30 188 





index 2021 = 100




100 




93 




83 




89 












Source:



EUROSTAT


















(43)


The analysis at the level of product families, including a relative increase of import pressure gaining market share, confirmed this overall trend as shown in Table 8 below.

Table 8


Market share of imports per product family










 


2021


2022


2023


2024




Consumption in 000 tonnes (flat)


96 261 


88 266 


85 048 


83 947 





index 2021 = 100




100 




92 




88 




87 





Consumption in 000 tonnes (long)


57 587 


53 236 


48 160 


48 792 





index 2021 = 100




100 




92 




84 




85 





Consumption in 000 tonnes (tubes)


12 214 


11 117 


10 570 


11 106 





index 2021 = 100




100 




91 




87 




91 





 




Imports in 000 tonnes (flat)


23 837 


21 701 


20 021 


21 504 





index 2021 = 100




100 




91 




84 




90 





Imports in 000 tonnes (long)


7 387 


7 711 


5 974 


6 250 





index 2021 = 100




100 




104 




81 




85 





Imports in 000 tonnes (tubes)


2 661 


2 193 


2 191 


2 433 





index 2021 = 100




100 




82 




82 




91 





 




Market share in % (flat)


24,8  %


24,6  %


23,5  %


25,6  %




Market share in % (long)


12,8  %


14,5  %


12,4  %


12,8  %




Market share in % (tubes)


21,8  %


19,7  %


20,7  %


21,9  %











Source:



EUROSTAT, industry data and questionnaire replies












4.   Comments from interested parties







(44)


The Commission received 12 questionnaire replies, 40 submissions and 22 rebuttals from interested parties, including Union steel producers, Union steel users and importers, as well as their respective associations, exporting producers and third country governments. This section provides an overview of the comments from interested parties is given, organised in 8 sub-sections. The comments are grouped by nature and content.




4.1.   Current TRQ levels







(45)


The Union industry asserted that the existing TRQs no longer align with the steel demand within the EU. The industry argued that quotas have been liberalised by more than 15 percentage points compared to 2019. This, along with the recent decline in steel demand, has created a widening gap between the current duty-free quota volumes and actual demand. As a result, the Union industry has requested an adjustment of the TRQs to better reflect the present demand, asking the Commission to reduce TRQ levels by 25 % to 50 % on average.










(46)


Certain exporting countries and users argued that although overall demand may seem to have decreased, certain sectors exhibit growing demand for specific steel products. According to these parties, tightening the TRQs in these categories would negatively impact the competitiveness of downstream EU industries. By keeping quotas more flexible, these industries can better meet their material needs, which EU producers may not be able to supply in sufficient quantities. These parties argued that a one-size-fits-all approach to TRQs fails to reflect the diverse demand across different sectors within the EU.










(47)


Additionally, several exporting producers referenced a recent WorldSteel report that predicts global steel demand will increase in 2025. (39) They argue that this contradicts the industry's forecasts, casting doubt on the reliability of the industry's evidence.




4.2.   External factors







(48)


The Union industry asserted that their economic situation has deteriorated significantly, notably in the latest quarters. They argue that this is visible in terms of production, sales, and profitability, while imports retain high or increasing market shares and undercut EU producers’ prices.










(49)


Certain exporting countries and users argued that external factors such as high energy costs and geopolitical issues significantly influenced the steel market. These factors, rather than pressure of imports, may account for much of the difficulties experienced by the EU steel industry.




4.3.   Allocation and management of TRQs







(50)


The Union industry requested to eliminate the quarterly carry-over of unused quotas to the next quarter, or alternatively, to cap the carry-over. Several exporting countries and users requested to keep the carry-over mechanism, arguing that this is a core element of the TRQ structure that provides predictability and as such does not fall under the scope of the review.










(51)


Certain exporting countries and users requested to remove the system of country-specific quotas for certain categories (or even for all categories) and have certain quotas administered globally within each quarter to maximise their use.










(52)


The Union industry and one exporting producer requested the Commission to recalculate all quotas based on a new reference period. The Commission also received several requests (from users and exporting producers) to increase quotas in certain categories to accommodate increasing demand of the EU downstream industries.










(53)


The Union industry also asserted that Chinese steel products, subject to anti-dumping measures, continue to enter the EU market at extremely low prices, rendering the imposed duties ineffective. In light of this, the industry requested that the Commission reinstate country-specific quotas for China in categories where volumes were previously redistributed due to the presence of anti-dumping measures.










(54)


Finally, some interested parties (the Union industry and some exporting producers) requested the Commission to take action to avoid duty dilution caused by immediate exhaustion on the first day of a quarter of residual quotas by either introducing monthly administration, or by introducing a regime based on first come first served for the allocation of quotas. Certain exporting countries and producers opposed the introduction of a first come first served allocation system, arguing that the regime would be impractical to implement.




4.4.   Crowding out of traditional trade flows







(55)


Some interested parties (mainly exporting producers and the Union industry) argued that since the past review and in particular in 2024, certain exporters had increased their exports in certain categories in the residual quota significantly, which led to crowding out of others. To solve this issue, some called for introducing additional country-specific quotas or for expanding the use of caps in the residual quotas.










(56)


Furthermore, several interested parties asserted that the current regime of no access should be extended to prevent crowding out in the residual quota in selected categories. Another interested party suggested that the Commission should rather extend the limited access regime.




4.5.   Update of the list of WTO developing country Members excluded from the scope of the measure based on their most recent level of imports







(57)


The Union industry requested the Commission to consider not granting new exemptions to developing countries on the basis of the most recent import data. Several interested parties opposed this and requested an update of the list of WTO developing country members excluded from the scope of the measure.




4.6.   Level of liberalisation







(58)


The Union industry asserted that quota liberalisation is no longer appropriate given the declining demand and the widening gaps with the current level of duty-free quota volumes. On the other hand, other interested parties requested the Commission to increase the level of liberalisation beyond the current 1 %, or at least maintain the current level, whether for all product categories or for some specific product categories and/or specific origins.




4.7.   Other comments







(59)


The Union industry requested the Commission to consider increasing the 25 % out-of-quota duty. Such a move is argued to be merited given the low-price levels of imports driven by worsening global overcapacity plus increasing numbers of TDI measures in third countries. It was argued that a 25 % out-of-quota duty is therefore no longer sufficient to prevent out-of-quota imports.










(60)


Additionally, certain exporting countries requested to be excluded from the measure on the basis of their respective Association Agreements with the Union.




4.8.   Category-specific comments







(61)


Several interested parties requested to split the TRQ of certain categories into two sub-categories, to better address the specificities of the products grouped under the categories. This was argued for category 1 by a Union user, for category 16 by an exporting producer and for categories 21 and 26 by Union producers.










(62)


One interested party (an exporting producer from Egypt) asserted that the 15 % cap in category 1 that was introduced in the Second Prolongation Review has restricted their traditional trade flows. The interested party argued that their historical export volumes to the EU significantly exceeded this cap.




5.   Commission assessment







(63)


The Commission considered the current situation and outlook of global overcapacity, as well as the economic situation of the Union industry and the latest developments concerning trade measures on steel imports adopted by third countries, as described in Section 3. On this basis the Commission has determined that the management of TRQs needs to be adapted, to ensure the effectiveness of the measure and bearing in mind the Union interest.










(64)


In view of the comments received from interested parties, the Commission has decided to evaluate the situation on a category-by-category basis across the 26 categories included in the safeguard. The objective of this approach is to ensure the effectiveness of the measure in categories with significant import pressure, while not unnecessarily restricting sourcing opportunities for Union user industries in categories where import pressure is not present.










(65)


The Commission in its assessment analysed in particular the quota usage in the previous safeguard year, the evolution of Union consumption and the market share of imports in each of the categories. In addition, also the available capacity of the Union industry was taken into account as well as the available sources of supply and the specific concerns of interested parties raised as regards quota usage. The Commission paid particular attention to the developments of these factors in 2024.










(66)


On this basis, it appeared that while in certain categories, the measure continues to be effective, in many others, an increase of import volumes disproportionate to the development of consumption has occurred resulting in significant import pressure, both in volumes and prices.










(67)


However, among the categories where import pressure exists, it is not uniformly intense. Moreover, the distribution of imports among the available sources also varies among the categories. In some categories, the increase of imports stemmed from one or a few sources which used most of the available volumes in the residual quota, thus crowding out traditional suppliers, while at the same time exercising significant price pressure. Thus, it became clear that there is not one solution that would solve all the various issues identified in the different categories.










(68)


On this basis, the Commission identified the categories where the effectiveness of the measure was undermined and sorted them according to the severeness of the situation in four groups:






—


Group 1: very significant import pressure










—


Group 2: significant import pressure










—


Group 3: moderate import pressure










—


Group 4: no import pressure














(69)


The subsequent sections present a detailed description of each group. The data underlying these analyses are provided in Annex III.





Group 1







(70)


This group covers categories 1A, 4A, 7, 21, 24. In these categories very significant import pressure was observed. In all of these categories, the quota usage was on average at 84 %, while in category 4A the usage was above 100 %. Between 2021 and 2024, consumption decreased significantly in these categories. Consumption decreased by 27 % in category 4A, and on average by 17 % in categories 1A and 24 and 7 % in categories 7 and 21. In the most recent period, the Commission observed the same trend. Between 2023 and 2024, consumption decreased in every category, by 6 % in category 7 and on average by 3 % in categories 1A, 4A and 24. In category 21, consumption decreased by 1 %. At the same time, the import shares increased significantly in all categories, by 9 % in category 4A and up to 3 % in categories 1A, 7, 21 and 24.










(71)


Since 2021, the Union's capacity utilisation has declined across all categories, including in the most recent period. With the average capacity utilisation at just 68 %, the Commission considered there is significant available capacity in these categories.





Group 2







(72)


This group covers categories 2, 5, 6, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22 and 25B. In these categories, the import pressure observed, though less severe than in group 1, was still significant. In all of these categories, the quota usage was on average at 90,2 %, while in categories 14, 18 and 25B the usage was above 100 %. Between 2021 and 2024, consumption decreased significantly in every category except one. Consumption decreased by 22 % in categories 2 and 16, and on average by 17 % in categories 6, 14 and 18 and 8 % in categories 5, 17, 20 and 22. At the same time, import shares increased in all categories. In the most recent period, consumption started to pick up in all categories except category 14. However, import pressure remained significant given the high quota usage and increased market share of imports from 2021.










(73)


Since 2021, the Union's capacity utilisation has decreased across all categories. This trend continued in the most recent period, with the exception of categories 5, 6, and 16, where there was a slight increase in capacity utilisation, though still well below 2022 levels. With the average capacity utilisation at only 54 % and the highest rate reaching 70 % (category 5), the Commission considered that there is substantial available capacity in these categories.





Group 3







(74)


This group covers categories 3B, 13, 15, 26. In these categories, the quota usage was on average 65 %. Between 2021 and 2024, consumption decreased in all categories while imports notably increased. Between 2023 and 2024, in most of the categories where consumption decreased, import share also decreased (categories 3B, 15 and 26). Hence, considering the quota usages in each category, the import pressure was more moderate in this group.










(75)


Since 2021, the Union's capacity utilisation has decreased across all categories. This trend continued in the most recent period, except for categories 13 and 15, where there was a slight increase in capacity utilisation, though still below 2022 levels. With the average capacity utilisation at only 60 % and the highest rate reaching 67 % (category 26), the Commission considered that there is substantial available capacity in these categories.





Group 4







(76)


This group covers categories 1B, 3A, 4B, 8, 9, 10, 12, 19, 25A, 27 and 28. In this group, no or minimal import pressure was detected, as either the quota usage was low in all but one category. Therefore, the Commission considered not to apply any adjustments in these categories so as not to unnecessarily restrict sourcing opportunities for EU user industries. In category 4B, interested parties presented convincing evidence demonstrating that maintaining the status-quo aligns with the Union's best interests.










(77)


Since 2021, the Union's capacity utilization has decreased across all categories. This trend continued in the most recent period, but the utilization rate is increasing in categories 4B, 8, 9 and 19, although still under 2022 levels. With the average capacity utilisation at 56 %, in combination with the low average quota usage (below 50 %), the Commission considered that no import pressure was identified and that it is in the Union interest not to adjust the measure in these categories.




6.   Adjustments







(78)


After identifying the categories where the effectiveness of the measure was undermined, the Commission considered it necessary to introduce a series of adjustments and refinements to the management of the TRQs in these categories, to better align them with the evolution of the market and to improve the functioning of the measure. While some of those adjustments are horizontal in nature, most are specific to certain product categories.




6.1.   Product category 1 - Non alloy and other alloy hot rolled sheets and strips







(79)


One interested party commented on the crowding out of a highly specific product in category 1 as a consequence of introducing the 15 % cap in the second functioning review.










(80)


The Commission considers that these products are highly specialised and have a significantly higher value as compared to other products in category 1.










(81)


In its assessment, the Commission confirmed that the introduction of the 15 % cap had an unintended consequence of exhausting the subquota 09.8452 within the residual quota for category 1 on the first day in all three instances since introduction in July 2024. (40) (41) (42) This led to the niche products within the category 1 under the CN code 7212 60 00  not being able to benefit of duty-free quota at all.










(82)


The most appropriate way to deal effectively with this situation is to split this category into two: a sub-TRQ (category 1B) covers the abovementioned CN code of the highly specific product, while the remaining codes are included in category 1A. Such a split does not appear to create any disproportionate burden for the custom authorities. The traditional trade flows of the product 1B that are used to calculate appropriate TRQs are in Table 9.

Table 9


Imports in the Category 1B in tonnes










 


Year 2015


Year 2016


Year 2017


Average 2015 - 2017




Total imports 1B


6 341 


6 217 


10 615 


7 724 




Russian Federation


2 030 


1 786 


6 194 


3 337 




Japan


1 816 


1 976 


1 985 


1 926 




United States


1 679 


1 398 


1 391 


1 489 




United Kingdom


135 


400 


645 


393 




Other countries


681 


656 


399 


579 











Source:



EUROSTAT


















(83)


The proposed split would ensure the availability of the necessary volumes for the niche product in the Union and preserve traditional trade flows in terms of volumes and origins.




6.2.   Horizontal adjustments

6.2.1.   Rate of liberalisation







(84)


Under WTO (43) and EU (44) rules, a WTO Member applying a safeguard measure shall progressively liberalise it after one year of imposition at regular intervals during the period of application. The objective of liberalisation is to progressively allow more import competition into the market while the domestic industry is adjusting to an increased level of imports.










(85)


WTO law does not establish any particular requirement as to the form or concrete pace of liberalisation, other than such liberalisation should occur progressively at regular intervals during the period of application.










(86)


The EU steel safeguard measure has been liberalised yearly since 2019 and the appropriateness of the liberalisation rate has been assessed and modified on several occasions. (45) The current yearly liberalisation rate, since July 2024, is 1 %.










(87)


In order to determine the appropriateness of the current level of liberalisation, the Commission conducted both a backward-looking and a forward-looking analysis.










(88)


In its backward-looking assessment, data reveals that the liberalisation rate has outpaced the evolution of consumption. While TRQs have been liberalised by almost 25 % (including the 5 % top-up applicable since February 2019), EU consumption decreased by 14 % over the same period. In 2024, global steel demand declined by 1 % (-18 million tonnes) compared to 2023, contrary to the expected +1,7 % growth for 2024. These opposing trends have significantly widened the gap between the level of TRQs and market demand.










(89)


As to the forward-looking assessment, as explained in Section 3 above, the latest market outlooks on world steel consumption only foresee a modest recovery in 2025 (reaching 2023 levels), which the Union market is expected to follow.










(90)


In view of the recent negative trend and outlook on steel consumption in the world and the Union steel market, the Commission considered that it is not in the Union interest to increase further the current large gap between the pace of TRQ volume increase and that of steel consumption. Therefore, the Commission considered that maintaining or increasing the current 1 % rate would seriously undermine the effectiveness of the measure.










(91)


For these reasons, the Commission considers that establishing the liberalisation rate at 0.1 % is appropriate to ensure the effectiveness of the measure.










(92)


Consequently, the TRQs will continue to increase by 0.1 % as of 1 July 2025 for all product categories. The specific volumes for the period 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026 (on a quarterly basis) are set out in Annex II to this Regulation.










(93)


Together with other adjustments presented in this Regulation, this rate of liberalisation will contribute to improving the effectiveness of the measure in a period where the Union market is suffering significant import-driven tensions, caused by the negative effects of overcapacity and the resulting responses to it across the world, in a context of weak demand. Union users will continue to have sufficient free-of-duty volumes available under existing TRQs.




6.2.2.   Update of the list of WTO developing country Members excluded from the scope of the measure based on their most recent level of imports







(94)


According to section 2 of the Notice of Initiation, the Commission announced that it would review whether imports from a developing WTO Member exceeded the 3 % threshold in the relevant period (2024) and, if needed, update the list of WTO developing country Members that should be included in, or excluded from the scope of the measure.










(95)


According to Article 9 of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards and Article 18 of the Basic Safeguard Regulation, a safeguard measure shall not be applied against a product originating in a WTO developing country Member, as long as its share of imports remains below 3 % of the total imports in a given product category. If the share of imports of all WTO developing country Members below the 3 % threshold account for more than 9 % of total imports in a given category, the safeguard measure applies to all WTO developing country members. The Commission has reviewed and updated the list of developing countries on a regular basis.










(96)


The last update of the list took place in June 2024, in the context of the previous review investigation to assess a possible prolongation of the safeguard measure. (46) As in previous review investigations, the Commission has updated the list of developing countries subject to and excluded from the measure based on a calculation of their share of imports using the most recently available consolidated import data, i.e. year 2024 import statistics. No change to the methodology followed in previous reviews was deemed appropriate.










(97)


The changes resulting from this update, which are applicable from 1 April 2025, are the following (updated table in Annex I to this Regulation):






—


China is included in categories 1B, 3A and 15;










—


Egypt is included in category 1A;










—


India is included in categories 1A, 1B, 3A and 5 and excluded in category 3B;










—


Indonesia is excluded in category 16;










—


Kazakhstan is included in category 19;










—


Malaysia is included in category 9;










—


Oman is included in category 13;










—


Saudi Arabia is included in category 25A;










—


Thailand is included in category 9;










—


Türkiye is included in categories 1A and 5 and excluded in categories 3A and 8;










—


United Arab Emirates are excluded in category 25A;










—


Vietnam is included in categories 1A, 5, 16 and 22 and excluded in category 3B.








6.3.   Targeted adjustments

6.3.1.   Adjustment 1: country-specific quota holders’ access to the residual quota







(98)


Due to the system of carry-over of unused quotas from quarter to quarter within a safeguard year, (47) the last quarter of the safeguard year (April-June) is usually the quarter where unused volumes are the highest. In order to maximize the use of quotas at the end of the safeguard year, the Commission considered it in the Union interest to introduce in the definitive Regulation a mechanism whereby larger exporters having exhausted their country-specific quota could also access the residual quota volumes in the last quarter. The objective of this mechanism was to avoid that volumes of the residual quotas would potentially remain unused.










(99)


Under the first functioning review in 2019, the Commission observed that this system could result in undue crowding out of smaller suppliers in the residual quotas. This trend expanded to more categories after 2019. Therefore, in the second functioning review, the Commission devised a system whereby the access of country-specific quota holders to the residual quota in the last quarter of a safeguard year would be based on the actual use of the residual quota in the previous quarters by those countries subject to the residual TRQ. This adjustment sought to protect the flows in the last quarter of smaller suppliers that are the natural beneficiaries of residual quotas. (48)











(100)


In order to minimise the displacement of traditional origins in the residual quotas, while continuing to allow additional access in those categories where it was necessary to ensure the maximum use of the quota, the Commission created a system whereby each product category would fall within one of the following three different groups, corresponding to three different access scenarios. This system fulfilled one of the key principles and objectives of the safeguard measure, namely, to ensure that traditional trade flows in terms of origins are preserved.










(101)


The three regimes currently in place are the following:






—



No access – where incumbent suppliers under the residual quota were able to exhaust the residual quotas by themselves, and crowding out effects in the last quarter had been identified;










—



Limited access – where incumbent suppliers were able to use only part of the residual quota available to them, and additional origins were needed, in limited amounts, to exhaust quotas;










—



No limitation – where the residual quotas were not highly used and no crowding out effects were identified.














(102)


The system allowed country-specific quota holders to exceed their traditional trade flows in most product categories by accessing the residual quota in the last quarter of a period when the incumbent suppliers were not able to fully use the quotas. The Commission recalls that this mechanism was initially introduced in the Union interest to avoid that volumes of the residual quotas would potentially remain unused, which could otherwise limit sourcing opportunities and supply for EU user industries.










(103)


However, in the current context of general deceleration in the Union steel market, the Commission considers it no longer appropriate to provide quarter 4 access to country-specific quota holders in those categories where import pressure and decreasing consumption has been identified (groups 1, 2 and 3). In these cases, imports have been negatively impacting the Union industry's economic situation, as described in Section 3.3.










(104)


Furthermore, the Commission also established on the basis of the questionnaire replies of the Union industry that in all these categories the Union industry had sufficient capacity to fulfil the potential demand of the users.










(105)


On this basis, the access regimes per product category should be adjusted as follows (for specific volumes see Annex II to this Regulation):






—


No access: 1A, 2, 3B, 4A, 5, 6, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25B, 26










—


Access: 1B, 3A, 9, 10, 12, 27, 28.




The categories for which this system would not apply are the following:
Special regime: 4B






—


The current regime that grants access to the residual quota in the last quarter to CSQ countries with a 30 % cap per exporting country continues to be appropriate in order to ensure sufficient variety of sources of supply while avoiding crowding out effects through excessive additional imports beyond traditional trade flows.










—


Global administration: 7, 8, 17, 25A.










—


The possibility to access the last quarter is not applicable, as there are no countries exporting under a country-specific quota.














(106)


With these adjustments, the key principles of the safeguard measure, namely, to ensure that traditional trade flows in terms of origins are preserved, will not be undermined.










(107)


The changes resulting from this update are applicable from 1 April 2025.




6.3.2.   Adjustment 2: sanction volumes







(108)


Following Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Union banned the import of certain steel products originating in Belarus and Russia. (49) As a result of these measures, imports from Belarus and Russia subject to the safeguard measure were no longer able to enter the Union. Thus, the Commission considered it in the Union interest to adjust the functioning of the safeguard measure by redistributing the import volumes originating in Russia and Belarus (the sanction volumes) in each product category where these countries had country-specific quotas, among other exporting countries subject to the safeguard measure based on their respective shares of overall imports in 2021.










(109)


The Commission recalls that this decision was taken in the Union interest, in line with market outlooks at that time, in order to ensure that these import bans do not create a shortage of supply in the Union market in the categories affected, and that Union steel users can continue sourcing those volumes free of duty from other sources. This decision has increased the access of all trading partners to duty-free volumes, beyond their traditional trade flows.










(110)


However, as explained in Section 3 above, given the current context of general deceleration in the Union steel market and its outlook, the Commission considers it no longer in the Union interest to have these volumes available in the categories in which the Union industry is facing the strongest import pressure, and where consumption has notably decreased.










(111)


Therefore, in order to maintain the effectiveness of the measure, the Commission considers it appropriate to reverse the earlier redistribution fully or partially in those categories falling under groups 1 and 2.










(112)


Accordingly, the Commission considers it appropriate to reverse this redistribution in category 24. This category is characterised by a decreasing trend in consumption in 2024 (-7 %), while imports gain market share (+4 %). Reversing the redistribution will align the TRQs with current and projected demand, without risking a shortage of supply as sufficient duty-free volumes will still be available for user industries.










(113)


For categories 1A, 7, 16, and 21, the Commission also considers it appropriate to reverse the redistribution of 65 % of the volumes. These categories show decreasing consumption in 2024, while imports gain market share. However, reversing the redistribution of the full volumes subject to sanctions would risk a shortage of supply for user industries. Therefore, the Commission considered it appropriate to retain 35 % of the volumes subject to sanctions in these categories redistributed over all origins.










(114)


The specific volumes can be found in Annex II to this Regulation. The changes resulting from this update are applicable from 1 April 2025.




6.3.3.   Adjustment 3: caps in the residual quotas







(115)


In designing the definitive safeguard measure and in the subsequent reviews, the Commission sought to preserve traditional trade flows in terms of volumes and origins. The objective of preserving traditional volumes was achieved by calculating TRQs based on past trade flows, while the objective of preserving traditional origins was achieved by establishing country-specific quotas.










(116)


However, this system has resulted in smaller traditional supplying countries, which did not qualify for a country-specific quota in certain product categories, being potentially exposed to a ‘crowding out’ effect within the residual TRQs. Therefore, in the second prolongation review, the Commission considered it appropriate to introduce a 15 % cap per single country in categories 1 and 16.










(117)


In light of the claims from interested parties that certain exporters significantly increased their exports in specific categories within the residual quota, resulting in the crowding out of others, the Commission has assessed the situation in each of the 26 categories. The analysis confirmed that recent market developments have resulted in a decrease of exports of traditional suppliers to the Union under the residual quotas in some categories while exports from other suppliers have significantly increased under the same residual quotas. This change of trade flows has disrupted the balance of origins in the residual TRQs, thus negatively impacting the functioning of the measure in some categories.










(118)


In other categories, the Commission has identified a risk of crowding out. As discussed in Section 3, several factors contribute to this risk, primarily the latest developments concerning trade measures on steel imports adopted by third countries, in combination with the persistent issue of global overcapacity, rising steel exports from China and the increase in worldwide installed capacity. These developments would create further tensions on the steel markets, thereby increasing the imminent risk of the crowding out of traditional trade flows due to additional trade diversion into the Union.










(119)


Based on the above, the Commission considers it appropriate to impose a limitation to the maximum volume that one single country can export under the residual TRQ in those categories where crowding out occurs, or where a risk of crowding out has been identified.










(120)


The Commission aimed at calibrating the levels of the caps to ensure a balance between preventing (the risk of) crowding out and preserving adequate sourcing opportunities for EU user industries.










(121)


In view of the above assessment, and after careful consideration of all the interests at stake, the following caps for the countries and categories should be applied:






Categories 1A, 2:


13 %




Categories 16, 17:


15 %




Categories 4B, 6, 7, 13:


20 %




Categories 4A, 5, 14:


25 %




Categories 3B, 20, 21, 25B, 26:


30 %














(122)


These levels have been identified with the aim of enabling incumbent suppliers under the residual quota to continue exporting their historical (and liberalised) trade flows, while maintaining the stability of traditional trade flows for countries that were at risk of being crowded out.










(123)


The Commission considers that these adjustments are in the overall Union interest as the calibrated caps improve the functioning and effectiveness of the safeguard measure by minimising the risk of undue crowding out. At the same time, they ensure sufficient diversity in supply sources for EU users, thereby allowing them continued access to competitive and varied sourcing options.










(124)


The changes resulting from this update are applicable from 1 April 2025.




6.3.4.   Adjustment 4: carry-over







(125)


The Commission considered it in the Union interest to allow Union users to make the fullest use of the duty-free volumes under the TRQs and consequently allowed in the Definitive Regulation unused quarterly tariff-rate quota allocations to be automatically carried over to the next period.










(126)


However, in the present investigation, the Commission has observed that such carrying over of volumes has contributed to increasing import pressure in certain quarters and certain categories.










(127)


Taking into consideration the current context of general deceleration in the Union steel market and its outlook, the Commission considered that allowing this carry-over of unused quotas is no longer in the Union interest, notably in the categories in which the Union industry is facing the strongest import pressure, and where consumption has decreased in 2024.










(128)


On this basis, the Commission considers that the possibility to carry-over of unused volumes from one quota quarter to the next should be repealed in the categories where significant import pressure is identified (groups 1 and 2), namely in categories 1A, 2, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25B.










(129)


The Commission considers the carry-over mechanism to remain appropriate in the categories where low import pressure is identified (groups 3 and 4), namely in categories 3A, 3B, 4B, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 19, 25A, 26, 27, 28.










(130)


The changes resulting from this update are applicable from 1 July 2025.




6.3.5.   Adjustments not pursued


Changing the reference period







(131)


The TRQs, whether country-specific or residual, were allocated based on the export performance in the reference period of the original investigation. (50) This reference period cannot be changed, as suggested by Union industry, since recalculating all TRQs based on more recent flows, which are covered by the measure would be against the objective of maintaining traditional trade flows.





Increasing the out-of-quota duty







(132)


The Commission notes that increasing the out-of-quota duty would be contrary to the obligation of progressive liberalisation of the measure under Article 19(4) of the Basic Safeguard Regulation and Article 7(4) of the WTO Agreement on Safeguard.





First Come First Serve allocation of duties







(133)


Regarding the request concerning the pro-rata splitting of the duty on the day of quota exhaustion, Article 51.4 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 (51) establishes that duties shall be allocated on a pro-rata basis.










(134)


The Union industry asserted that the implementation of such a system is nevertheless possible. Notwithstanding the above, the Commission considers introducing a regime based on First Come First Serve for the allocation of duties impractical to implement. Such a system would rely on identifying the exact timing of import registrations, which in turn would be influenced by external factors like the efficiency and speed of the 27 national customs authorities in registering imports. As a result, the Commission considers that such an approach would not be in the Union interest, as it could create substantial legal uncertainties for EU importers.










(135)


The Commission nevertheless considers that the underlying issue, which is a very rapid exhaustion of certain TRQs often within one day, will be addressed through other adjustments, notably the introduction of caps on the maximum volume that one single country can export under the residual TRQ in categories where such rapid exhaustion occurs.





Global administration of quotas in certain categories







(136)


Certain interested parties argued that the quota in certain categories should be globalised to facilitate a complete utilisation of the allocated volume while ensuring equitable distribution among all exporting partners.










(137)


The Commission notes that it was decided in the Definitive Regulation (52) that a country-specific tariff-rate quota system is the most appropriate system to ensure traditional trade flows and was therefore set as the default. The Commission has only introduced global administration in exceptional circumstances and because of duly justified claims. (53)











(138)


The Commission considers that the interested parties have not provided sufficient justification as to why the default system is unsuitable for the specified categories, nor have they demonstrated how such an adjustment would serve the overall interest of the Union.





Reinstating country-specific quotas for origins exporting products subject to anti-dumping duties







(139)


The Union industry claimed that Chinese steel products, despite being subject to anti-dumping measures, still enter the EU market at extremely low prices. The Commission notes that reinstating country-specific quotas for China in categories where these volumes were previously redistributed due to the presence of anti-dumping measures will not address the concerns raised by the Union industry, as imports from China would continue to enter the market, but under a country-specific quota instead.




6.3.6.   Other changes of circumstances that may require an adjustment to the level or allocation of the tariff-rate quotas


Traditional trade flows affected in category 1 due to caps







(140)


One interested party (an exporting producer from Egypt) asserted that the 15 % cap in category 1 that was introduced in the second prolongation review has restricted their traditional trade flows. The Commission notes that this claim is not substantiated by any data from the interested party. Notwithstanding this, the Commission considers after its own analysis that this statement is incorrect. Egypt’s historical export volumes to the EU do not exceed the 15 % cap, nor the 13 % cap.





Exclusion from the measure on the basis of bilateral agreements







(141)


With regard to the request from certain exporting countries with a bilateral agreement with the Union to be excluded from the scope of the measure, the Commission would like to recall that the bilateral agreements in question do not require the exclusion of imports from the respective countries from the safeguard measure. The Commission has ascertained that the conditions of those bilateral agreements are met for imports to be subject to safeguard measures taken in accordance with the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.










(142)


The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Safeguards established under Article 3(3) of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 and Article 22(3) of Regulation (EU) 2015/755 respectively,




HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:



Article 1
Regulation (EU) 2019/159 is amended as follows:






(1)


Article 1, paragraph 4, is amended as follows:

‘4.   The drawings on each quarterly quota shall be stopped on the twentieth working day of the Commission following the end of the quarterly period. At the end of each quarter, the unused balances of the tariff-rate quota shall automatically be transferred to the next quarter for each of the product categories concerned, and with the exception of product categories 1A, 2, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24 and 25B. No unused balance at the end of the last quarter of each year of application of the definitive tariff-rate quota shall be transferred.’











(2)


Article 1, paragraph 5, is amended as follows:

‘5.   Where the relevant tariff-rate quota under paragraph 2 is exhausted for one specific country, imports from that country for some product categories can be made under the remaining part of the tariff-rate quota for the same product category. This provision shall only apply during the last quarter of each year of application of the definitive tariff-rate quota. For product categories 1A, 2, 3B, 4A, 5, 6, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25B and 26 no further access to the remaining part of the tariff-rate quota will be allowed. For product categories 1B, 3A, 9, 10, 12, 27 and 28 only access to a specific volume within the tariff-rate quota volume initially available in the last quarter, will be allowed. In product category 4B no exporting country shall be allowed to use, on its own, more than 30 % of the residual tariff-rate quota volume initially available in the last quarter of each year of application of measures.’











(3)


Article 1, paragraph 7, is amended as follows:

‘7.   A maximum import volume for categories 1A and 2 is 13 %; for categories 16 and 17 is 15 %; for categories 4B, 6, 7 and 13 is 20 %; for categories 4A, 5 and 14 is 25 %; for categories 3B, 20 21, 25B and 26 is 30 % per country of the available free-of duty quota at the beginning of the quarter established in Annex IV.1 to this Regulation shall be applicable to countries importing through the ‘Other countries’ quota. The maximum import volume applies to countries not having a country specific quota and is applicable in all quarters.’











(4)


Annex III.2 is replaced by Annex I to this Regulation;










(5)


Annex IV is replaced by Annex II to this Regulation.






Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.




This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 24 March 2025.


For the Commission


The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN
            





(1)  Regulation (EU) 2015/478 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015 on common rules for imports (OJ L 83, 27.3.2015, p. 16, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2015/478/oj).

(2)  Regulation (EU) 2015/755 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on common rules for imports from certain third countries (OJ L 123, 19.5.2015, p. 33, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2015/755/oj).

(3)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 of 31 January 2019 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products (
OJ L 31, 1.2.2019, p. 27, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/159/oj).

(4)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1029 of 24 June 2021 amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 to prolong the safeguard measure on imports of certain steel products (OJ L 225, 25.6.2021, p.1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/1029/oj).

(5)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1782 of 24 June 2024 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159, including the prolongation of the safeguard measure on imports of certain steel products (OJ L, 2024/1782, 25.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/1782/oj).

(6)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1590 of 26 September 2019 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products (OJ L 248, 27.9.2019, p.28, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/1590/oj).

(7)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/894 of 29 June 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products; (OJ L 206, 30.6.2020, p.27, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2020/894/oj).

(8)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/978 of 23 June 2022 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 imposing a definitive safeguard measure on imports of certain steel products (OJ L 167, 24.6.2022, p.58, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2022/978/oj).

(9)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1301 of 26 June 2023 amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 imposing a definitive safeguard measure on imports of certain steel products (OJ L 161, 27.6.2023, p.44, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/1301/oj).

(10)  For a full list of the different adjustments to the measure, including among others, the adjustment of TRQs following Brexit, and following the sanctions on Belarus and Russia, see DG TRADE’s website: https://tron.trade.ec.europa.eu/investigations/search.

(11)  Regulation (EU) 2015/478 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015 on common rules for imports (OJ L 83, 27.3.2015, p. 16, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2015/478/oj).

(12)  Regulation (EU) 2015/755 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on common rules for imports from certain third countries (OJ L 123, 19.5.2015, p. 33, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2015/755/oj).

(13)  Notice of initiation concerning a functioning review of the safeguard measure applicable to imports of certain steel products (OJ C, C/2024/7515, 17.12.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/7515/oj).

(14)  The open versions of questionnaire replies are available for inspection by interested parties in the open file of the investigation: https://tron.trade.ec.europa.eu/tron/TDI (accessible only to registered interested parties).

(15)  The templates of the questionnaires are available on https://tron.trade.ec.europa.eu/investigations/case-history?caseId=2645.

(16)  The Commission was closed due to public holiday for civil servants between 22 December 2024 and 2 January 2025.

(17)  Regulation (EU) 2015/478 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2015 on common rules for imports (OJ L 83, 27.3.2015, p. 16, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2015/478/oj).

(18)  OECD: Latest developments in steelmaking capacity and outlook until 2027, DSTI/SC (2024) 15, October 2024.

(19)  WorldSteel Association: Short Range Outlook (October 2024).

(20)  OECD: Latest developments in steelmaking capacity and outlook until 2027, DSTI/SC (2024) 15, October 2024.

(21)  
            https://www.oecd.org/en/events/2024/10/ministerial-meeting-of-the-global-forum-on-steel-excess-capacity.html.

(22)  See Ministerial statement at: https://www.oecd.org/en/events/2024/10/ministerial-meeting-of-the-global-forum-on-steel-excess-capacity.html.

(23)  OECD: Steel Trade and Policy Developments (Jan-Sept. ’24), DSTI/SC(2024) 16, Table 1; Steel Orbis: https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/chinas-steel-exports-up-in-december-from-november-up-227-in-2024-1374163.htm#:~:text=In%202024%2C%20China's%20finished,112%20million%20mt%20in%202015.

(24)  WorldSteel Association: Short Range Outlook (October 2024).

(25)  See OECD: Steel trade and trade policy developments (Jan. - Sept 2024), DSTI/SC(2024) 16, Section 3; 28 October 2024. In particular, Table 3 shows that some of the countries seeing the largest increase of Chinese import presence in their domestic markets, are amongst those that have, in turn, increased their exports to the Union.


(26)  For a broader analysis on correlation between excess capacity and export developments, see GFSEC: ’Steel exports, trade remedy actions and sources of excess capacity’ (May 2024).

(27)  
            https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news-and-insights/latest-market-news/2643385-turkey-ups-some-steel-product-import-duties-correction.

(28)  
            https://www.mincit.gov.co/normatividad/decretos/2024/decreto-1294-del-18-de-octubre-de-2024.

(29)  
            https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/cn-ad/cn24-36-eng.html.

(30)  
            https://www.itac.org.za/upload/document_files/20240705012443_Report-730.pdf.

(31)  
            https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news25_e/safe_ind_07jan25_e.htm.

(32)  
            https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/adjusting-imports-of-steel-into-the-united-states/.

(33)  The impact of the US Section 232 measure on trade flows into the Union market has been assessed at length in the original regulation imposing a safeguard measure as well as in several review investigations.

(34)  The templates of the questionnaires are available on https://tron.trade.ec.europa.eu/investigations/case-history?caseId=2645.

(35)  Given that the questionnaire replies do not include every steel producer in the Union, market share of the Union industry has been calculated based on the consumption data, import data and data from questionnaire replies.

(36)  See recital 47 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 of 31 January 2019 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products (
OJ L 31, 1.2.2019, p. 27, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/159/oj).

(37)  For a full description of the product families, see recital 21 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 of 31 January 2019 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products (
OJ L 31, 1.2.2019, p. 27, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/159/oj).

(38)  For a broader picture on import evolution in previous years, see Table 2 of the Definitive Regulation and Table 9 of the First Prolongation Review Regulation.

(39)  WorldSteel Association: Short Range Outlook (October 2024).

(40)  
            https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric/quota_tariff_details.jsp?Lang=en&StartDate=2024-07-01&Code=098452.

(41)  
            https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric/quota_tariff_details.jsp?Lang=en&StartDate=2024-10-01&Code=098452.

(42)  
            https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric/quota_tariff_details.jsp?Lang=en&StartDate=2025-01-01&Code=098452.

(43)  Article 7.4 of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.

(44)  Article 19(4) of the Basic Safeguard Regulation.

(45)  The liberalisation level was reduced from the announced 5% to 3% in the First Functioning Review of September 2019, and it was increased from 3% to 4% as a result of the Third Functioning Review in June 2022.

(46)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1782 of 24 June 2024 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159, including the prolongation of the safeguard measure on imports of certain steel products (OJ L, 2024/1782, 25.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2024/1782/oj).

(47)  The EU safeguard year starts on 1 July of a given year and ends on 30 June of the following year.

(48)  See Section 3.2.3 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/894 of 29 June 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel Products.

(49)  Council Regulation (EU) 2022/355 of 2 March 2022 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus (OJ L 67, 2.3.2022, p. 1) and Council Regulation (EU) 2022/428 of 15 March 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine (OJ L 87 I, 15.3.2022, p. 13).

(50)  See recital (33) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/894 of 29 June 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products, 
OJ L 206, 30.6.2020, p. 27: “Lastly, the Commission also notes that the reference period used to calculate the TRQs constitutes one of the pillars in the design of the measures set ab initio by the Definitive Safeguard Regulation, and that the scope of the Review does not cover the substantial modification of the basic structure of the measures”.

(51)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 of 24 November 2015 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code (OJ L 343, 29.12.2015, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2015/2447/oj)

(52)  See recital 146 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 of 31 January 2019 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products (
OJ L 31, 1.2.2019, p. 27, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/159/oj).

(53)  For example, category 8. See recital 53 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/894 of 29 June 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products (OJ L 206, 30.6.2020, p. 27–62, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2020/894/oj).




ANNEX I



“ANNEX III.2
List of product categories originating in developing countries to which the definitive measures apply




































List of product categories originating in developing countries to which the definitive measures apply





Country / Product group


1A


1B


2


3A


3B


4A


4B


5


6


7


8


9


10


12


13


14


15


16


17


18


19


20


21


22


24


25A


25B


26


27


28




Albania


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


X




Brazil


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




China


 


X


 


X


X


 


X


 


X


 


X


X


X


X


X


X


X


 


X


X


X


 


X


X


X


X


X


X


X


X




Egypt


X


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




India


X


X


X


X


 


X


X


X


X


X


X


X


X


X


 


X


X


 


 


 


 


X


 


X


X


X


 


X


X


 




Indonesia


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


X


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




Kazakhstan


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




Malaysia


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




Moldova


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




North Macedonia


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


X


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




Oman


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




Saudi Arabia


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


X


 


 


 


 




South Africa


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


X


X


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




Thailand


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




Tunisia


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




Turkey


X


 


X


 


 


X


X


X


X


X


 


X


 


X


X


 


 


X


X


 


X


X


X


 


X


X


X


X


X


X




Ukraine


X


 


X


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


X


X


X


 


 


 


X


X




United Arab Emirates


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


X


 


X


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 




Vietnam


X


 


X


 


X


X


X


X


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 


X


X


 


 


 


 


 




All other developing countries


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


X


 


 


 


 


 






            ”
         





ANNEX II



“ANNEX IV
IV.1 –   Volumes of tariff–rate quotas
















Product Number


Product category


CN Codes


Allocation by country (Where Applicable)


Year 7


Year 8


Additional duty rate


Order numbers




From 1.4.2025 to 30.6.2025


From 1.7.2025 to 30.9.2025


From 1.10.2025 to 31.12.2025


From 1.1.2026 to 31.3.2026


From 1.4.2026 to 30.6.2026




 


Volume of tariff quota (net tonnes)




1.A


Non Alloy and Other Alloy Hot Rolled Sheets and Strips
Non Alloy and Other Alloy Hot Rolled Sheets and Strips


7208 10 00 , 7208 25 00 , 7208 26 00 , 7208 27 00 , 7208 36 00 , 7208 37 00 , 7208 38 00 , 7208 39 00 , 7208 40 00 ,
7208 52 10 , 7208 52 99 , 7208 53 10 , 7208 53 90 , 7208 54 00 , 7211 13 00 ,
7211 14 00 , 7211 19 00 , 7225 19 10 , 7225 30 10 , 7225 30 30 , 7225 30 90 , 7225 40 15 , 7225 40 90 , 7226 19 10 , 7226 91 20 , 7226 91 91 , 7226 91 99 


Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8966




Türkiye


397 957,38 


402 732,86 


402 732,86 


393 977,80 


398 355,33 


25 %


09.8967




India


225 080,70 


227 781,67 


227 781,67 


222 829,89 


225 305,78 


25 %


09.8968




Korea, Republic of


161 143,97 


163 077,70 


163 077,70 


159 532,53 


161 305,12 


25 %


09.8969




United Kingdom


139 271,98 


140 943,25 


140 943,25 


137 879,26 


139 411,25 


25 %


09.8976




Serbia


142 378,99 


144 087,54 


144 087,54 


140 955,20 


142 521,37 


25 %


09.8970




Other countries


856 769,76 


867 051,00 


867 051,00 


848 202,07 


857 626,53 


25 %



 (1)





1.B


7212 60 00 


Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8854




Japan


674,43 


682,52 


682,52 


667,68 


675,10 


25 %


09.8855




United States


553,70 


560,35 


560,35 


548,17 


554,26 


25 %


09.8874




United Kingdom


253,92 


256,97 


256,97 


251,38 


254,18 


25 %


09.8875




Other countries


253,87 


256,91 


256,91 


251,33 


254,12 


25 %



 (2)





2


Non Alloy and Other Alloy Cold Rolled Sheets


7209 15 00 , 7209 16 90 , 7209 17 90 , 7209 18 91 , 7209 25 00 , 7209 26 90 , 7209 27 90 , 7209 28 90 , 7209 90 20 , 7209 90 80 , 7211 23 20 , 7211 23 30 , 7211 23 80 , 7211 29 00 , 7211 90 20 , 7211 90 80 , 7225 50 20 , 7225 50 80 , 7226 20 00 , 7226 92 00 


India


163 094,09 


165 051,22 


165 051,22 


161 463,15 


163 257,18 


25 %


09.8801




Korea, Republic of


94 591,31 


95 726,40 


95 726,40 


93 645,39 


94 685,90 


25 %


09.8802




United Kingdom


87 423,10 


88 472,18 


88 472,18 


86 548,87 


87 510,53 


25 %


09.8977




Ukraine


72 623,12 


73 494,60 


73 494,60 


71 896,89 


72 695,75 


25 %


09.8803




Serbia


41 176,66 


41 670,78 


41 670,78 


40 764,89 


41 217,84 


25 %


09.8805




Other countries


334 369,98 


338 382,42 


338 382,42 


331 026,28 


334 704,35 


25 %



 (3)





3.A


Electrical Sheets (other than GOES)


7209 16 10 , 7209 17 10 , 7209 18 10 , 7209 26 10 , 7209 27 10 , 7209 28 10 


Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8808




United Kingdom


553,35 


559,99 


559,99 


547,82 


553,91 


25 %


09.8978




Iran, Islamic Republic of


165,95 


167,94 


167,94 


164,29 


166,11 


25 %


09.8809




Korea, Republic of


254,14 


257,19 


257,19 


251,60 


254,39 


25 %


09.8806




Other countries


849,52 


859,72 


859,72 


841,03 


850,37 


25 %



 (4)





3.B


7225 19 90 , 7226 19 80 


Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8811




Korea, Republic of


35 180,17 


35 602,33 


35 602,33 


34 828,37 


35 215,35 


25 %


09.8812




China


30 938,09 


31 309,34 


31 309,34 


30 628,71 


30 969,03 


25 %


09.8813




Taiwan


24 196,73 


24 487,09 


24 487,09 


23 954,77 


24 220,93 


25 %


09.8814




Other countries


8 627,70 


8 731,24 


8 731,24 


8 541,43 


8 636,33 


25 %



 (5)





4.A


Metallic Coated Sheets


CN Code: 7212 50 20 
TARIC Codes:
7210410020 , 7210410030 ,
7210490020 , 7210490030 ,
7210610020 , 7210610030 ,
7210690020 , 7210690030 ,
7212300020 , 7212300030 ,
7212506120 , 7212506130 ,
7212506920 , 7212506930 ,
7225920020 , 7225920030 ,
7225990011 , 7225990022 ,
7225990023 , 7225990041 ,
7225990045 , 7225990091 ,
7225990092 , 7225990093 ,
7226993010 , 7226993030 ,
7226997011 , 7226997013 ,
7226997091 , 7226997093 ,
7226997094 


Korea (Republic of)


37 523,24 


37 973,52 


37 973,52 


37 148,01 


37 560,77 


25 %


09.8816




India


53 636,33 


54 279,97 


54 279,97 


53 099,97 


53 689,97 


25 %


09.8817




United Kingdom


35 354,86 


35 779,12 


35 779,12 


35 001,31 


35 390,22 


25 %


09.8979




Other countries


472 049,81 


477 714,40 


477 714,40 


467 329,31 


472 521,86 


25 %



 (6)





4.B


CN Codes:
7210 20 00 , 7210 30 00 , 7210 90 80 ,
7212 20 00 , 7212 50 30 , 7212 50 40 ,
7212 50 90 , 7225 91 00 , 7226 99 10 
TARIC codes:
7210410080 , 7210490080 ,
7210610080 , 7210690080 ,
7212300080 , 7212506180 ,
7212506980 , 7225920080 ,
7225990025 , 7225990095 ,
7226993090 , 7226997019 ,
7226997096 


China


128 220,12 


129 758,76 


129 758,76 


126 937,91 


128 348,34 


25 %


09.8821




Korea (Republic of)


166 407,43 


168 404,32 


168 404,32 


164 743,36 


166 573,84 


25 %


09.8822




India


76 582,33 


77 501,32 


77 501,32 


75 816,51 


76 658,91 


25 %


09.8823




United Kingdom


35 354,86 


35 779,12 


35 779,12 


35 001,31 


35 390,22 


25 %


09.8980




Other countries


104 779,40 


106 036,75 


106 036,75 


103 731,61 


104 884,18 


25 %



 (7)





5


Organic Coated Sheets


7210 70 80 , 7212 40 80 


India


78 591,62 


79 534,72 


79 534,72 


77 805,70 


78 670,21 


25 %


09.8826




Korea, Republic of


71 028,39 


71 880,73 


71 880,73 


70 318,10 


71 099,42 


25 %


09.8827




United Kingdom


34 872,35 


35 290,82 


35 290,82 


34 523,63 


34 907,23 


25 %


09.8981




Taiwan


22 764,27 


23 037,44 


23 037,44 


22 536,63 


22 787,04 


25 %


09.8828




Türkiye


15 716,47 


15 905,06 


15 905,06 


15 559,30 


15 732,18 


25 %


09.8829




Other countries


42 860,67 


43 375,00 


43 375,00 


42 432,07 


42 903,53 


25 %



 (8)





6


Tin Mill products


7209 18 99 , 7210 11 00 , 7210 12 20 , 7210 12 80 , 7210 50 00 , 7210 70 10 , 7210 90 40 , 7212 10 10 , 7212 10 90 , 7212 40 20 


China


110 919,70 


112 250,74 


112 250,74 


109 810,50 


111 030,62 


25 %


09.8831




United Kingdom


40 458,37 


40 943,87 


40 943,87 


40 053,79 


40 498,83 


25 %


09.8982




Serbia


22 264,76 


22 531,93 


22 531,93 


22 042,11 


22 287,02 


25 %


09.8832




Korea, Republic of


16 105,32 


16 298,58 


16 298,58 


15 944,27 


16 121,42 


25 %


09.8833




Taiwan


13 390,40 


13 551,08 


13 551,08 


13 256,49 


13 403,79 


25 %


09.8834




Other countries


37 107,31 


37 552,60 


37 552,60 


36 736,24 


37 144,42 


25 %



 (9)





7


Non Alloy and Other Alloy Quarto Plates


7208 51 20 , 7208 51 91 , 7208 51 98 , 7208 52 91 , 7208 90 20 , 7208 90 80 , 7210 90 30 , 7225 40 12 , 7225 40 40 , 7225 40 60 , 7225 99 00 


Ukraine


253 901,50 


256 948,32 


256 948,32 


251 362,49 


254 155,41 


25 %


09.8836




Other countries


550 190,08 


556 792,36 


556 792,36 


544 688,18 


550 740,27 


25 %



 (10)





United Kingdom (to Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom


5 240,78 


5 303,67 


5 303,67 


5 188,38 


5 246,02 


25 %


09.8498




8


Stainless Hot Rolled Sheets and Strips


7219 11 00 , 7219 12 10 , 7219 12 90 , 7219 13 10 , 7219 13 90 , 7219 14 10 , 7219 14 90 , 7219 22 10 , 7219 22 90 , 7219 23 00 , 7219 24 00 , 7220 11 00 , 7220 12 00 


Other countries


109 697,12 


111 013,49 


111 013,49 


108 600,15 


109 806,82 


25 %



 (11)





United Kingdom (to Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom


13,30 


13,46 


13,46 


13,16 


13,31 


25 %


09.8491




9


Stainless Cold Rolled Sheets and Strips


7219 31 00 , 7219 32 10 , 7219 32 90 , 7219 33 10 , 7219 33 90 , 7219 34 10 , 7219 34 90 , 7219 35 10 , 7219 35 90 , 7219 90 20 , 7219 90 80 , 7220 20 21 , 7220 20 29 , 7220 20 41 , 7220 20 49 , 7220 20 81 , 7220 20 89 , 7220 90 20 , 7220 90 80 


Korea, Republic of


49 636,30 


50 231,94 


50 231,94 


49 139,94 


49 685,94 


25 %


09.8846




Taiwan


46 029,41 


46 581,76 


46 581,76 


45 569,11 


46 075,44 


25 %


09.8847




India


30 764,51 


31 133,69 


31 133,69 


30 456,87 


30 795,28 


25 %


09.8848




South Africa


26 770,10 


27 091,34 


27 091,34 


26 502,40 


26 796,87 


25 %


09.8853




United States


25 030,05 


25 330,41 


25 330,41 


24 779,75 


25 055,08 


25 %


09.8849




Türkiye


20 828,13 


21 078,07 


21 078,07 


20 619,85 


20 848,96 


25 %


09.8850




Malaysia


12 943,01 


13 098,32 


13 098,32 


12 813,58 


12 955,95 


25 %


09.8887




Other countries


53 183,34 


53 821,54 


53 821,54 


52 651,51 


53 236,52 


25 %



 (12)





United Kingdom (to Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom


31,15 


31,53 


31,53 


30,84 


31,18 


25 %


09.8492




10


Stainless Hot Rolled Quarto Plates


7219 21 10 , 7219 21 90 


China


4 915,73 


4 974,72 


4 974,72 


4 866,58 


4 920,65 


25 %


09.8856




India


2 085,29 


2 110,32 


2 110,32 


2 064,44 


2 087,38 


25 %


09.8857




South Africa


1 427,89 


1 445,03 


1 445,03 


1 413,62 


1 429,32 


25 %


09.8859




United Kingdom


860,24 


870,56 


870,56 


851,63 


861,10 


25 %


09.8984




Taiwan


794,21 


803,74 


803,74 


786,26 


795,00 


25 %


09.8858




Other countries


1 042,04 


1 054,55 


1 054,55 


1 031,62 


1 043,09 


25 %



 (13)





12


Non Alloy and Other Alloy Merchant Bars and Light Sections


7214 30 00 , 7214 91 10 , 7214 91 90 , 7214 99 31 , 7214 99 39 , 7214 99 50 , 7214 99 71 , 7214 99 79 , 7214 99 95 , 7215 90 00 , 7216 10 00 , 7216 21 00 , 7216 22 00 , 7216 40 10 , 7216 40 90 , 7216 50 10 , 7216 50 91 , 7216 50 99 , 7216 99 00 , 7228 10 20 , 7228 20 10 , 7228 20 91 , 7228 30 20 , 7228 30 41 , 7228 30 49 , 7228 30 61 , 7228 30 69 , 7228 30 70 , 7228 30 89 , 7228 60 20 , 7228 60 80 , 7228 70 10 , 7228 70 90 , 7228 80 00 


China


140 266,19 


141 949,39 


141 949,39 


138 863,53 


140 406,46 


25 %


09.8861




United Kingdom


117 182,50 


118 588,69 


118 588,69 


116 010,68 


117 299,69 


25 %


09.8985




Türkiye


105 975,73 


107 247,44 


107 247,44 


104 915,97 


106 081,70 


25 %


09.8862




Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8863




Switzerland


68 110,56 


68 927,89 


68 927,89 


67 429,45 


68 178,67 


25 %


09.8864




Belarus


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8865




Other countries


60 691,28 


61 419,58 


61 419,58 


60 084,37 


60 751,97 


25 %



 (14)





13


Rebars


7214 20 00 , 7214 99 10 


Türkiye


94 398,76 


95 531,55 


95 531,55 


93 454,78 


94 493,16 


25 %


09.8866




Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8867




Ukraine


43 947,40 


44 474,77 


44 474,77 


43 507,93 


43 991,35 


25 %


09.8868




Bosnia and Herzegovina


33 960,06 


34 367,58 


34 367,58 


33 620,45 


33 994,02 


25 %


09.8869




Moldova, Republic of


28 382,93 


28 723,53 


28 723,53 


28 099,10 


28 411,32 


25 %


09.8870




Other countries


137 840,68 


139 494,77 


139 494,77 


136 462,27 


137 978,52 


25 %



 (15)





United Kingdom (to Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom


2 154,40 


2 180,25 


2 180,25 


2 132,85 


2 156,55 


25 %


09.8493




14


Stainless Bars and Light Sections


7222 11 11 , 7222 11 19 , 7222 11 81 , 7222 11 89 , 7222 19 10 , 7222 19 90 , 7222 20 11 , 7222 20 19 , 7222 20 21 , 7222 20 29 , 7222 20 31 , 7222 20 39 , 7222 20 81 , 7222 20 89 , 7222 30 51 , 7222 30 91 , 7222 30 97 , 7222 40 10 , 7222 40 50 , 7222 40 90 


India


31 733,56 


32 114,36 


32 114,36 


31 416,22 


31 765,29 


25 %


09.8871




United Kingdom


4 637,47 


4 693,12 


4 693,12 


4 591,10 


4 642,11 


25 %


09.8986




Switzerland


4 564,73 


4 619,51 


4 619,51 


4 519,09 


4 569,30 


25 %


09.8872




Ukraine


3 525,59 


3 567,89 


3 567,89 


3 490,33 


3 529,11 


25 %


09.8873




Other countries


5 149,72 


5 211,52 


5 211,52 


5 098,23 


5 154,87 


25 %



 (16)





15


Stainless Wire Rod


7221 00 10 , 7221 00 90 


India


7 380,66 


7 469,23 


7 469,23 


7 306,86 


7 388,04 


25 %


09.8876




Taiwan


4 758,76 


4 815,86 


4 815,86 


4 711,17 


4 763,52 


25 %


09.8877




United Kingdom


3 823,13 


3 869,01 


3 869,01 


3 784,90 


3 826,95 


25 %


09.8987




Korea, Republic of


2 375,88 


2 404,39 


2 404,39 


2 352,12 


2 378,26 


25 %


09.8878




China


1 595,66 


1 597,26 


1 597,26 


1 562,53 


1 579,89 


25 %


09.8889




Japan


1 596,90 


1 616,06 


1 616,06 


1 580,93 


1 598,50 


25 %


09.8880




Other countries


817,48 


844,85 


844,85 


826,48 


835,66 


25 %



 (17)





16


Non Alloy and Other Alloy Wire Rod


7213 10 00 , 7213 20 00 , 7213 91 10 , 7213 91 20 , 7213 91 41 , 7213 91 49 , 7213 91 70 , 7213 91 90 , 7213 99 10 , 7213 99 90 , 7227 10 00 , 7227 20 00 , 7227 90 10 , 7227 90 50 , 7227 90 95 


United Kingdom


162 973,44 


164 929,12 


164 929,12 


161 343,70 


163 136,41 


25 %


09.8988




Ukraine


112 213,96 


113 560,52 


113 560,52 


111 091,82 


112 326,17 


25 %


09.8881




Switzerland


115 086,98 


116 468,02 


116 468,02 


113 936,11 


115 202,07 


25 %


09.8882




Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8883




Türkiye


98 054,96 


99 231,62 


99 231,62 


97 074,41 


98 153,02 


25 %


09.8884




Belarus


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8885




Moldova, Republic of


59 018,48 


59 726,70 


59 726,70 


58 428,30 


59 077,50 


25 %


09.8886




Other countries


100 498,90 


101 704,89 


101 704,89 


99 493,91 


100 599,40 


25 %



 (18)





17


Angles, Shapes and Sections of Iron or Non Alloy Steel


7216 31 10 , 7216 31 90 , 7216 32 11 , 7216 32 19 , 7216 32 91 , 7216 32 99 , 7216 33 10 , 7216 33 90 


Ukraine


31 287,14 


31 662,59 


31 662,59 


30 974,27 


31 318,43 


25 %


09.8891




Other countries


67 479,69 


68 289,44 


68 289,44 


66 804,89 


67 547,17 


25 %



 (19)





United Kingdom (to Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom)


14 085,96 


14 254,99 


14 254,99 


13 945,10 


14 100,05 


25 %


09.8499




18


Sheet Piling


7301 10 00 


China


6 999,05 


7 083,04 


7 083,04 


6 929,06 


7 006,05 


25 %


09.8901




United Arab Emirates


3 463,87 


3 505,44 


3 505,44 


3 429,23 


3 467,33 


25 %


09.8902




United Kingdom


898,26 


909,03 


909,03 


889,27 


899,15 


25 %


09.8990




Other countries


336,38 


340,42 


340,42 


333,02 


336,72 


25 %



 (20)





19


Railway Material


7302 10 22 , 7302 10 28 , 7302 10 40 , 7302 10 50 , 7302 40 00 


United Kingdom


5 108,58 


5 169,88 


5 169,88 


5 057,49 


5 113,68 


25 %


09.8991




Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8906




Türkiye


1 556,54 


1 575,22 


1 575,22 


1 540,98 


1 558,10 


25 %


09.8908




China


1 505,68 


1 523,75 


1 523,75 


1 490,62 


1 507,19 


25 %


09.8909




Other countries


789,03 


798,49 


798,49 


781,14 


789,82 


25 %



 (21)





20


Gas pipes


7306 30 41 , 7306 30 49 , 7306 30 72 , 7306 30 77 


Türkiye


49 432,86 


50 026,06 


50 026,06 


48 938,53 


49 482,29 


25 %


09.8911




India


19 023,32 


19 251,60 


19 251,60 


18 833,09 


19 042,34 


25 %


09.8912




North Macedonia


7 026,16 


7 110,48 


7 110,48 


6 955,90 


7 033,19 


25 %


09.8913




United Kingdom


6 683,72 


6 763,93 


6 763,93 


6 616,89 


6 690,41 


25 %


09.8992




Other countries


11 107,36 


11 240,65 


11 240,65 


10 996,29 


11 118,47 


25 %



 (22)





21


Hollow sections


7306 61 10 , 7306 61 92 , 7306 61 99 


Türkiye


83 949,07 


84 956,46 


84 956,46 


83 109,58 


84 033,02 


25 %


09.8916




United Kingdom


48 032,51 


48 608,90 


48 608,90 


47 552,18 


48 080,54 


25 %


09.8993




Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8917




North Macedonia


26 210,46 


26 524,99 


26 524,99 


25 948,36 


26 236,67 


25 %


09.8918




Ukraine


19 518,22 


19 752,44 


19 752,44 


19 323,04 


19 537,74 


25 %


09.8919




Switzerland


15 684,38 


15 872,59 


15 872,59 


15 527,53 


15 700,06 


25 %


09.8920




Belarus


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8921




Other countries


18 533,09 


18 755,49 


18 755,49 


18 347,76 


18 551,63 


25 %



 (23)





22


Seamless Stainless Tubes and Pipes


7304 11 00 , 7304 22 00 , 7304 24 00 ,
7304 41 00 , 7304 49 83 , 7304 49 85 ,
7304 49 89 


India


5 880,42 


5 950,99 


5 950,99 


5 821,62 


5 886,31 


25 %


09.8926




Ukraine


3 682,10 


3 726,29 


3 726,29 


3 645,28 


3 685,78 


25 %


09.8927




United Kingdom


1 869,03 


1 891,46 


1 891,46 


1 850,34 


1 870,90 


25 %


09.8994




Korea, Republic of


1 157,50 


1 171,39 


1 171,39 


1 145,92 


1 158,66 


25 %


09.8928




Japan


1 076,42 


1 089,33 


1 089,33 


1 065,65 


1 077,49 


25 %


09.8929




China


923,55 


934,63 


934,63 


914,31 


924,47 


25 %


09.8931




Other countries


2 687,10 


2 719,34 


2 719,34 


2 660,23 


2 689,78 


25 %



 (24)





24


Other Seamless Tubes


7304 19 10 , 7304 19 30 , 7304 19 90 ,
7304 23 00 , 7304 29 10 , 7304 29 30 ,
7304 29 90 , 7304 31 20 , 7304 31 80 ,
7304 39 50 , 7304 39 82 , 7304 39 83 ,
7304 39 88 , 7304 51 81 , 7304 51 89 ,
7304 59 82 , 7304 59 83 , 7304 59 89 ,
7304 90 00 


China


34 392,91 


34 805,63 


34 805,63 


34 005,05 


34 427,30 


25 %


09.8936




Ukraine


26 898,30 


27 221,08 


27 221,08 


26 572,26 


26 925,19 


25 %


09.8937




Belarus


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8938




United Kingdom


10 891,54 


11 022,24 


11 022,24 


10 773,65 


10 902,43 


25 %


09.8995




United States


7 655,89 


7 747,76 


7 747,76 


7 570,85 


7 663,55 


25 %


09.8940




Other countries


42 197,03 


42 703,39 


42 703,39 


41 739,30 


42 239,23 


25 %



 (25)





25.A


Large welded tubes


7305 11 00 , 7305 12 00 


Other countries


120 259,74 


121 702,85 


121 702,85 


119 057,14 


120 380,00 


25 %



 (26)





 


United Kingdom (to Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom


13,87 


14,04 


14,04 


13,74 


13,89 


25 %


09.8494




25.B


Large welded tubes


7305 19 00 , 7305 20 00 , 7305 31 00 , 7305 39 00 , 7305 90 00 


Türkiye


14 931,71 


15 110,89 


15 110,89 


14 782,39 


14 946,64 


25 %


09.8971




China


8 451,72 


8 553,14 


8 553,14 


8 367,21 


8 460,18 


25 %


09.8972




Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8973




United Kingdom


6 133,95 


6 207,56 


6 207,56 


6 072,61 


6 140,09 


25 %


09.8996




Korea, Republic of


2 889,59 


2 924,27 


2 924,27 


2 860,70 


2 892,48 


25 %


09.8974




Other countries


6 494,73 


6 572,67 


6 572,67 


6 429,79 


6 501,23 


25 %



 (27)





26


Other Welded Pipes


7306 11 00 , 7306 19 00 , 7306 21 00 ,
7306 29 00 , 7306 30 12 , 7306 30 18 ,
7306 30 80 , 7306 40 20 , 7306 40 80 ,
7306 50 21 , 7306 50 29 , 7306 50 80 ,
7306 69 10 , 7306 69 90 , 7306 90 00 


Switzerland


48 079,28 


48 656,23 


48 656,23 


47 598,49 


48 127,36 


25 %


09.8946




Türkiye


38 078,79 


38 535,74 


38 535,74 


37 698,01 


38 116,87 


25 %


09.8947




United Kingdom


11 628,30 


11 767,84 


11 767,84 


11 512,01 


11 639,92 


25 %


09.8997




Taiwan


9 009,70 


9 117,82 


9 117,82 


8 919,60 


9 018,71 


25 %


09.8950




China


8 072,85 


8 169,72 


8 169,72 


7 992,12 


8 080,92 


25 %


09.8949




Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8952




Other countries


20 051,24 


20 291,85 


20 291,85 


19 850,72 


20 071,29 


25 %



 (28)





27


Non-alloy and other alloy cold finished bars


7215 10 00 , 7215 50 11 , 7215 50 19 ,
7215 50 80 , 7228 10 90 , 7228 20 99 ,
7228 50 20 , 7228 50 40 , 7228 50 61 ,
7228 50 69 , 7228 50 80 


Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8956




Switzerland


42 166,22 


42 672,21 


42 672,21 


41 744,55 


42 208,38 


25 %


09.8957




United Kingdom


25 437,75 


25 743,00 


25 743,00 


25 183,37 


25 463,18 


25 %


09.8998




China


26 909,98 


27 232,90 


27 232,90 


26 640,88 


26 936,89 


25 %


09.8958




Ukraine


30 371,86 


30 736,32 


30 736,32 


30 068,14 


30 402,23 


25 %


09.8959




Other countries


31 550,19 


31 928,79 


31 928,79 


31 234,69 


31 581,74 


25 %



 (29)





28


Non Alloy Wire


7217 10 10 , 7217 10 31 , 7217 10 39 , 7217 10 50 , 7217 10 90 , 7217 20 10 , 7217 20 30 , 7217 20 50 , 7217 20 90 , 7217 30 41 , 7217 30 49 , 7217 30 50 , 7217 30 90 , 7217 90 20 , 7217 90 50 , 7217 90 90 


Belarus


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8961




China


78 959,10 


79 906,61 


79 906,61 


78 169,51 


79 038,06 


25 %


09.8962




Russian Federation


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


not applicable


25 %


09.8963




Türkiye


51 381,35 


51 997,93 


51 997,93 


50 867,54 


51 432,73 


25 %


09.8964




Ukraine


38 748,44 


39 213,42 


39 213,42 


38 360,95 


38 787,19 


25 %


09.8965




Other countries


49 399,36 


49 992,15 


49 992,15 


48 905,36 


49 448,76 


25 %



 (30)





United Kingdom (to Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom


189,86 


192,14 


192,14 


187,96 


190,05 


25 %


09.8495




IV.2 –   Volumes of global and residual tariff–rate quotas per trimester












Product Number


Allocation by country (Where Applicable)


Year 7


Year 8




From 1.4.2025 to 30.6.2025


From 1.7.2025 to 30.9.2025


From 1.10.2025 to 31.12.2025


From 1.1.2026 to 31.3.2026


From 1.4.2026 to 30.6.2026




 


Volume of tariff quota (net tonnes)




1.A


Other countries


856 769,76 


867 051,00 


867 051,00 


848 202,07 


857 626,53 




1.B


Other countries


253,87 


256,91 


256,91 


251,33 


254,12 




2


Other countries


334 369,98 


338 382,42 


338 382,42 


331 026,28 


334 704,35 




3.A


Other countries


849,52 


859,72 


859,72 


841,03 


850,37 




3.B


Other countries


8 627,70 


8 731,24 


8 731,24 


8 541,43 


8 636,33 




4.A


Other countries


472 049,81 


477 714,40 


477 714,40 


467 329,31 


472 521,86 




4.B


Other countries


104 779,40 


106 036,75 


106 036,75 


103 731,61 


104 884,18 




5


Other countries


42 860,67 


43 375,00 


43 375,00 


42 432,07 


42 903,53 




6


Other countries


37 107,31 


37 552,60 


37 552,60 


36 736,24 


37 144,42 




7


Other countries


550 190,08 


556 792,36 


556 792,36 


544 688,18 


550 740,27 




8


Other countries


109 697,12 


111 013,49 


111 013,49 


108 600,15 


109 806,82 




9


Other countries


53 183,34 


53 821,54 


53 821,54 


52 651,51 


53 236,52 




10


Other countries


1 042,04 


1 054,55 


1 054,55 


1 031,62 


1 043,09 




12


Other countries


60 691,28 


61 419,58 


61 419,58 


60 084,37 


60 751,97 




13


Other countries


137 840,68 


139 494,77 


139 494,77 


136 462,27 


137 978,52 




14


Other countries


5 149,72 


5 211,52 


5 211,52 


5 098,23 


5 154,87 




15


Other countries


817,48 


844,85 


844,85 


826,48 


835,66 




16


Other countries


100 498,90 


101 704,89 


101 704,89 


99 493,91 


100 599,40 




17


Other countries


67 479,69 


68 289,44 


68 289,44 


66 804,89 


67 547,17 




18


Other countries


336,38 


340,42 


340,42 


333,02 


336,72 




19


Other countries


789,03 


798,49 


798,49 


781,14 


789,82 




20


Other countries


11 107,36 


11 240,65 


11 240,65 


10 996,29 


11 118,47 




21


Other countries


18 533,09 


18 755,49 


18 755,49 


18 347,76 


18 551,63 




22


Other countries


2 687,10 


2 719,34 


2 719,34 


2 660,23 


2 689,78 




24


Other countries


42 197,03 


42 703,39 


42 703,39 


41 739,30 


42 239,23 




25.A


Other countries


120 259,74 


121 702,85 


121 702,85 


119 057,14 


120 380,00 




25.B


Other countries


6 494,73 


6 572,67 


6 572,67 


6 429,79 


6 501,23 




26


Other countries


20 051,24 


20 291,85 


20 291,85 


19 850,72 


20 071,29 




27


Other countries


31 550,19 


31 928,79 


31 928,79 


31 234,69 


31 581,74 




28


Other countries


49 399,36 


49 992,15 


49 992,15 


48 905,36 


49 448,76 




IV.3 –   Maximum volume of residual quota accessible in last quarters to countries with a country specific quota








Product category


New allocated quota in tonnes




From 1.4.2025 to 30.6.2025


From 1.4.2026 to 30.6.2026




1.A


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




1.B


253,87


254,12




2


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




3.A


849,52


850,37




3.B


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




4.A


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




4.B


Special regime


Special regime




5


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




6


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




7


Not applicable


Not applicable




8


Not applicable


Not applicable




9


53 183,34 


53 236,52 




10


1 042,04 


1 043,09 




12


60 691,28 


60 751,97 




13


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




14


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




15


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




16


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




17


Not applicable


Not applicable




18


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




19


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




20


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




21


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




22


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




24


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




25.A


Not applicable


Not applicable




25.B


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




26


No access to the residual quota in Q4


No access to the residual quota in Q4




27


31 550,19 


31 581,74 




28


49 399,36 


49 448,76 






            ”
         


(1)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8601
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8602
From 1.7 to 30.6: For Egypt: 09.8450, for Vietnam: 09.8451, for Japan: 09.8452, for Taiwan: 09.8453, for Australia: 09.8454, for Switzerland: 09.8455, for United States: 09.8456, for Libya: 09.8457 and for Canada: 09.8458

(2)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8661
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8662
From 1.7 to 30.6: For Egypt: 09.8470, for Vietnam: 09.8471, for Taiwan: 09.8472, for Australia: 09.8473, for Switzerland: 09.8474, for Libya: 09.8475 and for Canada: 09.8476

(3)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8603
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8604
From 1.7 to 30.6: For Türkiye: 09.8410, for Vietnam: 09.8411, for Taiwan: 09.8412 and for Japan: 09.8413

(4)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8605
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8606
From 1.4 to 30.6: For Korea, Republic of*, United Kingdom* and Iran, Islamic Republic of*: 09.8568 *In case of exhaustion of their specific quotas in accordance with Article 1.5

(5)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8607
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8608
From 1.7 to 30.6: For India: 09.8420 and for Japan: 09.8421

(6)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8609
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8610
From 1.7 to 30.6: For Türkiye: 09.8430, for Vietnam: 09.8431 and for Taiwan: 09.8432

(7)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8611
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8612
From 1.7 to 30.6: For Türkiye: 09.8433, for Vietnam: 09.8434 and for Japan: 09.8435
From 1.4 to 30.6: For China*: 09.8581, for Korea, Republic of*: 09.8582, for India*: 09.8583 and for United Kingdom*: 09.8584 *In case of exhaustion of their specific quotas in accordance with Article 1.5

(8)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8613
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8614
From 1.7 to 30.6: for Vietnam: 09.8414

(9)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8615
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8616
From 1.7 to 30.6: for India: 09.8423 and for Türkiye: 09.8424

(10)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8617
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8618
From 1.7 to 30.6: for India: 09.8425, for Indonesia: 09.8426 and for Korea, Republic of: 09.8427

(11)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8619
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8620

(12)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8621
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8622
From 1.4 to 30.6: For Korea, Republic of*, Taiwan*, India*, South Africa*, United States*, Malaysia* and Türkiye* 09.8510 *In case of exhaustion of their specific quotas in accordance with Article 1.5

(13)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8623
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8624
From 1.4 to 30.6: For China*, United Kingdom*, India*, South Africa* and Taiwan*: 09.8591 *In case of exhaustion of their specific quotas in accordance with Article 1.5

(14)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8625
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8626
From 1.4 to 30.6: For China*, United Kingdom*, Türkiye* and Switzerland*: 09.8592 *In case of exhaustion of their specific quotas in accordance with Article 1.5

(15)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8627
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8628
From 1.7 to 30.6: for Algeria: 09.8428 and for Egypt: 09.8429

(16)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8629
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8630
From 1.7 to 30.6: for China: 09.8436 and for Taiwan: 09.8437

(17)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8631
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8632

(18)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8633
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8634
From 1.7 to 30.6: For Malaysia: 09.8460, for Algeria: 09.8461, for Egypt: 09.8462, for Bosnia and Herzegovina: 09.8463, for Korea, Republic of: 09.8464, for Japan: 09.8466, for Indonesia: 09.8465 and for Serbia: 09.8467

(19)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8635
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8636
From 1.7 to 30.6: for Türkiye: 09.8438 and for United Kingdom: 09.8439

(20)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8637
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8638

(21)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8639
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8640

(22)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8641
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8642
From 1.7 to 30.6: for United Arab Emirates: 09.8440 and for Korea, Republic of: 09.8441

(23)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8643
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8644
From 1.7 to 30.6: for China: 09.8442 and for Serbia: 09.8443

(24)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8645
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8646

(25)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8647
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8648

(26)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8657
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8658

(27)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8659
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8660
From 1.7 to 30.6: for Algeria: 09.8444

(28)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8651
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8652
From 1.7 to 30.6: for India: 09.8445, for Serbia: 09.8446 and for Korea, Republic of: 09.8447

(29)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8653
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8654
From 1.4 to 30.6: For Switzerland*, United Kingdom* and China *: 09.8539 *In case of exhaustion of their specific quotas in accordance with Article 1.5

(30)  From 1.7 to 31.3: 09.8655
From 1.4 to 30.6: 09.8656
From 1.4 to 30.6: For Türkiye* and China *: 09.8598 *In case of exhaustion of their specific quotas in accordance with Article 1.5





ANNEX III
Table with indicators used for analysis





















Product category


TRQ available in tonnes (*1)



TRQ usage


Consumption in tonnes


 


Import share


 


Capacity usage




July 2023 - June 2024


July 2023 - June 2024


2021


2022


2023


2024


 


2021


2022


2023


2024


 


2021


2022


2023


2024










1 -


Hot rolled sheets and strips






8 782 516 


84,20 %


33 436 733 


29 934 732 


29 715 229 


28 868 354 


 


29 %


27 %


29 %


31 %


 


80 %


70 %


69 %


72 %










2-


Cold rolled sheets






2 861 921 


75,2 %


9 741 619 


8 212 679 


7 486 110 


7 637 696 


29 %


30 %


32 %


35 %


79 %


70 %


64 %


59 %










3A -


Electrical sheets






7 239 


1,4 %


158 511 


145 867 


100 871 


100 091 


2 %


1 %


0 %


2 %


68 %


66 %


53 %


48 %










3B -


Electrical sheets






392 929 


63,6 %


1 050 960 


1 182 587 


875 142 


760 993 


24 %


38 %


35 %


30 %


67 %


62 %


59 %


58 %










4A -


Corrosion resistant sheets






2 377 064 


100,06 %


5 830 849 


4 830 685 


4 341 046 


4 227 371 


60 %


61 %


54 %


63 %


90 %


81 %


86 %


86 %










4B-


Other metallic coated sheets






2 030 689 


96,9 %


20 945 768 


19 046 509 


19 988 918 


19 324 231 


13 %


12 %


10 %


11 %


83 %


76 %


80 %


80 %










5 -


Organic coated sheets






1 055 699 


85,7 %


6 103 053 


5 726 378 


5 032 084 


5 813 504 


16 %


21 %


17 %


18 %


85 %


73 %


67 %


70 %










6 -


Tin Mills






954 083 


85,0 %


3 324 838 


3 423 145 


2 653 655 


2 746 445 


19 %


25 %


33 %


32 %


83 %


78 %


57 %


69 %










7 -


Quarto plates






2 288 209 


80,20 %


10 110 858 


10 273 614 


10 460 381 


9 856 349 


20 %


17 %


19 %


21 %


74 %


76 %


72 %


66 %










8 -


Stainless hot rolled






435 638 


45,0 %


1 218 891 


937 417 


893 257 


910 136 


25 %


33 %


20 %


28 %


72 %


61 %


61 %


63 %










9 -


Stainless cold rolled






1 053 122 


40,7 %


4 067 350 


4 291 175 


3 275 707 


3 444 122 


22 %


30 %


16 %


17 %


79 %


70 %


67 %


67 %










10 -


Stainless quarto plates






44 182 


62,2 %


271 468 


260 909 


225 433 


257 360 


7 %


9 %


11 %


13 %


71 %


73 %


68 %


67 %










12 -


Merchant bars






1 954 766 


60,0 %


12 270 397 


11 815 726 


10 879 708 


9 983 439 


13 %


15 %


13 %


12 %


68 %


62 %


61 %


57 %










13 -


Rebars






1 169 868 


82,3 %


12 205 247 


12 261 413 


11 287 285 


12 111 996 


10 %


12 %


9 %


10 %


65 %


62 %


58 %


59 %










14 -


Stainless bars






183 018 


109,7 %


660 260 


656 108 


575 298 


537 123 


29 %


35 %


36 %


38 %


58 %


55 %


46 %


42 %










15 -


Stainless wire rod






88 752 


49,3 %


440 506 


414 711 


299 926 


286 610 


16 %


20 %


20 %


18 %


79 %


66 %


49 %


57 %










16 -


Wire rod






2 490 114 


68,0 %


22 018 577 


19 232 158 


16 569 575 


17 149 245 


12 %


15 %


13 %


15 %


81 %


69 %


59 %


63 %










17 -


Shapes, angles and sections






267 980 


95,1 %


6 153 701 


5 552 488 


5 479 582 


5 526 924 


5 %


5 %


6 %


5 %


76 %


65 %


72 %


65 %










18 -


Sheet piling






46 251 


117,9 %


703 143 


586 335 


553 190 


591 510 


5 %


8 %


10 %


7 %


81 %


66 %


65 %


60 %










19 -


Railway material






35 582 


100,2 %


1 504 831 


1 543 626 


1 586 904 


1 609 229 


2 %


1 %


2 %


2 %


91 %


86 %


89 %


90 %










20 -


Gas pipes






370 415 


89,1 %


1 841 789 


1 694 769 


1 683 136 


1 717 187 


22 %


21 %


20 %


22 %


58 %


53 %


49 %


44 %










21 -


Hollow sections






860 174 


82,01 %


4 857 017 


4 385 340 


4 414 969 


4 385 500 


22 %


18 %


18 %


20 %


67 %


62 %


60 %


54 %










22 -


Stainless seamless pipes/tubes






53 986 


70,3 %


98 659 


99 067 


86 656 


88 555 


50 %


52 %


61 %


60 %


42 %


50 %


45 %


40 %










24 -


Other seamless pipes/tubes






412 886 


73,70 %


2 396 378 


2 204 762 


1 971 570 


1 912 046 


14 %


18 %


23 %


23 %


72 %


78 %


71 %


63 %










25A -


Large welded tubes






477 585 


10,4 %


265 558 


129 027 


-39 841 


327 978 


84 %


26 %


- 108 %


26 %


14 %


23 %


29 %


18 %










25B -


Large welded tubes






154 489 


105,8 %


283 301 


338 230 


282 653 


508 954 


30 %


28 %


44 %


38 %


38 %


45 %


41 %


33 %










26 -


Other welded tubes






535 805 


67,9 %


2 471 414 


2 266 304 


2 170 638 


2 165 579 


20 %


20 %


18 %


18 %


74 %


72 %


69 %


67 %










27 -


Cold finished bars






500 635 


23,9 %


702 773 


442 497 


269 938 


244 190 


75 %


68 %


57 %


51 %


90 %


90 %


73 %


71 %










28 -


Non Alloy wire






713 796 


57,1 %


927 240 


730 951 


658 731 


752 138 


76 %


76 %


74 %


81 %


90 %


49 %


41 %


35 %










Source:


EUROSTAT, questionnaire replies










(*1)  Volume is without volumes of Ukraine



ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/612/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)