The new quota system proposed by the European Commission earlier this month to replace the existing safeguards will be dynamic and will be applied quarterly to 26 product categories in a first phase, with the possibility of revision, according to Enrique Arrieta, European Commission policy officer for trade and economic security.
The measure is expected to enter into force in June 2026, with a “relatively immediate” effect, although its long-term impact will be assessed in the light of market developments. “We have put in place mechanisms that will allow the Commission to adapt the measure to different economic scenarios,” Arrieta said at the Steel Tech 2025 conference in Bilbao on Wednesday, attended by Kallanish.
According to the expert, steelmakers have made it clear they do not want the new import system to cover semi-finished steel. “We are not deliberately excluding this category,” Arrieta pointed out. “We have a high level of engagement with the industry, and we are trying to understand their needs so that the measure better responds to them. Therefore, the Commission does not see the need to include something that has not been requested by the industry itself.”
However, Brussels reserves the right to amend the product codes subject to the measures, provided there is sufficient evidence and justification to extend their scope.
As for negotiations on an EU-US trade agreement, Arrieta said there is still no definite date for its signature and that progress will depend “largely on the willingness of the US counterparts”.
He added that one key requirement for moving forward will be that the countries with which a tariff reduction is negotiated have a solid level of customs protection. “In the past, we have been criticised for not having a sufficiently secure level of protection. I believe that with the latest proposals from the European Commission, we have shown a substantial improvement,” Arrieta stressed.
Despite mutual interest and expressions of goodwill, there is still no clear timetable for concluding the agreement.
“We believe that our proposal represents a solid starting point, with requirements that allow for a more equitable treatment in their [US] market, which is very important for them as well as for us,” he added.
Todor Kirkov Bulgaria
