EU MOVES TO SHIELD STEEL INDUSTRY WITH TARIFF HIKE – Brussels doubles steel import levies to counter Chinese competition
The European Union is taking a hard line on steel imports — doubling tariffs to 50 per cent and slashing quotas in half to protect the bloc’s struggling industry from cheap Chinese competition.
EU Industry Commissioner Stephane Sejourne defended the move, saying, “The European steel industry was on the verge of collapse — we are protecting it so that it can invest, decarbonise, and become competitive again.”
He added that Europe’s economic sovereignty is at stake, as it remains one of the only major markets still open to large volumes of imported steel.
Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the measures aim to strike a balance between protecting European jobs and preventing a trade war. The proposal is expected to face debate among member states, as some fear retaliatory action from Beijing could hit other European exports
