The European Commission has proposed a new plan aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s vital iron and steel industries by continuing to exempt Ukrainian steel imports from EU trade defence measures. The proposal would extend the current suspension of parts of Regulation (EU) 2015/478 specifically for imports originating from Ukraine.
This regulatory move would provide a legal foundation to maintain the suspension of EU steel safeguard measures concerning Ukrainian products, ensuring ongoing preferential access to the European market.
Ukraine’s iron and steel exports to the EU represent a crucial revenue stream for the war-affected country. By allowing continued access without tariffs or quotas, the EU hopes to support Ukrainian producers and exporters grappling with the economic fallout from Russia’s ongoing war of aggression.
“The continued exemption of Ukrainian steel from EU safeguard measures reflects our commitment to Ukraine’s economic resilience,” a Commission spokesperson said. “This support is especially critical given the severe challenges faced by Ukraine’s industrial sectors amid the war.”
The proposal will now be reviewed by the European Council and the European Parliament. If approved, the exemption will remain in place even after the expiration of the EU’s current temporary Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs), which are set to expire on 5 June 2025.
The EU first introduced safeguard measures in 2018 to shield its steel industry from economic harm caused by a surge in global imports. However, since 2022, Ukraine has benefited from a temporary exemption under the ATM Regulation, which suspended import duties, quotas, and trade defence measures on Ukrainian goods.
These measures were renewed in 2023 and again in 2024, in line with the EU’s ongoing efforts to provide economic relief to Ukraine. The Commission is now seeking a longer-term, stable trade framework to ensure certainty for both Ukrainian exporters and European importers.
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