🚨 EU Just Slashed Steel Quotas by 47% – Effective July 1. Your Window to Ship to Europe Is Closing Fast

If your business relies on exporting steel to the European market, listen carefully: the rules are about to change dramatically, and the deadline is just two weeks away.

On June 8, 2026, the Council of the European Union formally approved a new steel trade protection framework that will take effect on July 1, replacing the existing safeguard measures that expire on June 30. This is not a minor adjustment — it is a fundamental reshaping of Europe‘s steel import regime.

 The EU will reduce its annual tariff-free steel import quota from 33 million tons to just 18.3 million tons — a 47% cut from 2024 levels.

 Any imports exceeding the quota will face a 50% additional duty, up from the previous 25%.

The new regulation introduces a mandatory “melted and poured” requirement, meaning the origin of steel products will be determined by where the steel was first melted and cast — not where it was processed or transshipped. This effectively blocks circumvention through third countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, or Turkey.

 The EU warns that global steel overcapacity is projected to reach 721 million tons by 2027 — more than five times the EU‘s annual steel consumption.

If you are planning to ship PPGI, galvanized coil, galvalume, or any steel product to Europe, your window is closing. After July 1, securing quota space will become extremely difficult, and shipments without quota will face 50% tariffs — effectively pricing them out of the market.

CNB Group strongly advises you to finalize your European orders and shipping schedules immediately. Once July 1 hits, the cost of doing business with Europe will rise substantially — for those who can even get in at all.

📩 Contact CNB Group today. We can help you assess your options and arrange shipments before the new regime takes effect.