EU countries are united and determined to protect the European steel sector from potential market destabilisation after the US announced blanket steel tariffs, says Polish development and technology minister Krzysztof Paszyk. However, the bloc should negotiate a deal with the US to remove transatlantic trade barriers.
This was the conclusion of a video conference call this week between EU trade ministers, with the participation of Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič. Poland is heading the EU’s rotating presidency in the first half of 2025.
“Although the EU-US partnership is of strategic importance, Poland will support the European Commission to be active in such cases and to react proportionately and responsibly if necessary. At the same time, we want to maintain the offer of positive cooperation with the US – so as to jointly remove barriers on the transatlantic market or take care of economic security.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier this week the US tariffs will “trigger firm and proportionate countermeasures” from the EU. However, there have since been calls from within the EU to negotiate a trade deal with the US, rather than retaliate.
European steelmakers’ association Eurofer meanwhile said it expects the EU to urgently revise the existing safeguard regime in response to the US tariffs. The EU could lose up to 3.7 million tonnes/year of steel exports to the US, it added.
Adam Smith Poland
