As of 1 July 2026, the European Union’s new safeguard measure on imports of steel products has entered into force, introduced by Regulation (EU) 2026/1384 and implemented through Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1457, which sets out the allocation of tariff-rate quotas by country. This is a major change for the market, with immediate effects on purchasing planning and import management.

The main change is the reduction of duty-free quotas, now cut by around 50% compared with the previous framework, with a total annual cap of 18.3 million tonnes. At the same time, the duty applied to imports beyond quota has increased from 25% to 50%, making extra-quota volumes significantly more expensive. For operators, this means greater attention to shipment timing, remaining quota availability and the correct customs classification of products.

From an operational perspective, the new system introduces country-specific quotas for defined product categories, with more detailed allocation rules set out in the implementing regulation. In practice, customs management has become a key element of the supply chain: it is no longer enough to check the material price, but it is also necessary to assess in advance the actual availability of the relevant quota.

The official text of Regulation (EU) 2026/1384 can be downloaded directly from the EUR-Lex portal here: Regulation (EU) 2026/1384

A separate point concerns Ukraine. Until June, imports from Ukraine benefited from preferential treatment that effectively exempted them from duty under the previous framework; under the new measure, however, Ukraine now falls within the scope of the new regime and may therefore be subject to the quotas and duties applicable to extra-quota imports. For this reason, each transaction should be assessed carefully, on a case-by-case basis, to verify the applicability of the new tariff conditions.