The European Union has reached a preliminary agreement to drastically reduce its steel imports, imposing increased tariffs to protect its steel industry from global competition.
The plan calls for a reduction of approximately 47% in the volume of steel that can enter duty-free, now limited to 18,3 million tons per year. Beyond this threshold, imports will be subject to tariffs of up to 50%, effectively doubling existing duties.
This decision comes as European producers are currently operating at only 65% of their capacity, hampered by the influx of foreign steel and by protectionist measures imposed by the United States under the leadership of the president. Donald Trump.
Brussels' stated objective is to increase the industrial capacity utilization rate to 80%, in order to support local production and preserve employment in the sector.
The plan also provides for the gradual elimination of steel imports from Russia by 2028, in a context of persistent geopolitical tensions.
This agreement, concluded between the European Parliament and the Member States, marks a protectionist turning point for the European Union, which seeks to defend its strategic industries against global overproduction and increasing trade rivalries.
Community
Comments
Comments are open, but protected against spam. Initial posts and comments containing links undergo manual review.
Be the first to comment on this article.