Frankfurt am Main – The European Commission today unveiled strengthened trade defense measures to support the European steel industry. IG Metall welcomes the plans as a major step in the right direction. However, the union cautions that, in addition to a robust trade policy, additional industrial policy initiatives are needed to secure jobs in the long term.
“With the plans presented today, the European Commission is sending a clear signal that it is determined to take decisive action against unfair trade and dumped imports,” said Jürgen Kerner, Second Chairman of IG Metall. “This is good news for the tens of thousands of workers—not only in the steel industry itself, but also in downstream value chains. It is now crucial that the plan be implemented as quickly as possible, by January 2026 at the latest. We expect the German government to advocate strongly for this in Brussels.”
According to the plans presented today, the European Commission intends to reduce steel import quotas by about half. Tariffs on quantities exceeding these limits are to be raised to 50 percent. In addition, loopholes are to be closed and regulations extended to cover additional steel products. The new package of measures is intended to replace the existing so-called safeguard regulations, which are set to officially expire in mid-2026. IG Metall has long advocated for a significantly stricter successor regulation to the safeguards.
According to IG Metall, the regulations now on the horizon offer prospects and improved planning certainty for local steel companies. They can make a significant contribution to securing good industrial jobs. The measures are also a fundamental pillar of European resilience and independence. The EU continues to avoid relying on strict protectionism or selective tariffs. Rather, it offers a framework that maintains open markets while protecting the European steel industry without placing an excessive burden on steel consumers.
IG Metall emphasizes the need for an industrial policy approach to complement the new protective measures. Jürgen Kerner: “Trade policy alone is no guarantee for the survival of the European steel industry and the jobs it provides. More is needed: policymakers must strengthen the demand side through growth stimuli and investment incentives. They must ensure internationally competitive energy prices. And they must create leading green markets so that the climate-friendly transformation of industry gains momentum and new jobs are created.”
Background: German and European steel producers are currently grappling with global overcapacity, which is finding its way into Europe due to increasingly restrictive global trade policies. This threatens tens of thousands of jobs and entire value chains in Germany and Europe. The safeguard measures in place to date have provided only inadequate protection, which, moreover, is set to expire in mid-2026.
