GENERAL NEWS
Tariffs hit exporters to United States
One year after the United States imposed 50 % tariffs on steel imports, European steel exports to the U. S. are down by one-third according to latest figures by the European Steel Association( EUROFER).
New data published on 4 June 2026 shows EU steel exports to the U. S. fell by 34 % year-on-year over the three quarters following the introduction of last year’ s tariffs, dropping from 2.93 million tonnes to 1.94 million tonnes.
The tariffs, that came into force on 4 June 2025 and were later extended to additional steel-intensive downstream products(‘ derivative products’), continue to weigh heavily on European steel producers and wider manufacturing value chains. Steel and aluminium remain the only sectors still subject to 50 % U. S. tariffs.
“ The figures come as EU governments [ recently ] approved legislation implementing the EU-U. S. trade arrangement. It includes safeguard provisions allowing the European Commission to suspend parts of the agreement if the U. S. continues applying tariffs above 15 % beyond the end of 2026 on steel- and aluminium-derivative products that became subject to U. S. tariffs after 4 June 2025,” said EUROFER.
The agreement also foresees discussions between the EU and U. S. on possible solutions for steel and aluminium-intensive products, including tariff-rate quota arrangements and cooperation to address global overcapacity.
Axel Eggert, Director General of the European Steel Association( EUROFER), commented:“ One year on and the impact is clear: these tariffs are choking European steel exports to the U. S. and meaningful
Mark Ridgway OBE.
Image: Shutterstock. com. market access remains unresolved. Strong transatlantic cooperation remains in the interest of both sides, but we are still far from restoring balanced steel trade conditions. The U. S. must now deliver on its commitment to work with the EU to find a solution for steel, aluminium and steel-containing products that protects both markets from overcapacity while ensuring secure supply chains between them, including through tariff-rate quota solutions. As long as there is no such solution, the agreement is worth nothing for the EU steel industry.’’
On 19 May 2026, the European Parliament approved a new EU steel trade measure designed to address the growing pressures facing the sector from record imports, global overcapacity and rising international protectionism. Expected to come into force by 1 July 2026, the measure introduces a reinforced tariff-rate quota( TRQ) system including stronger protections against import surges, enhanced monitoring and anti-circumvention tools, and a 50 % tariff above quota levels. EUROFER stressed that the EU will continue to remain one of the world’ s most open steel markets, with around 18 million tonnes of steel imports continuing to enter tariff-free each year.
New tariffs sound warning bell
The Manufacturing Technologies Association in the UK has also warned that newly announced U. S. tariffs on UK exports risk becoming the tipping point for British exporters to the U. S. who are already under severe pressure from soaring energy costs, rising employment taxes and chronic skills shortages. The new tariffs, reportedly ranging from 10 % to 12.5 % and applying to dozens of countries including the UK, have been imposed over alleged failures to tackle forced labour. They follow a February U. S. Supreme Court ruling which struck down earlier duties, adding further uncertainty for exporters already trying to price, finance and deliver major capital equipment projects into the U. S. market.
“ For advanced manufacturers, even a 10 % tariff can have a significant impact on customer confidence and investment decisions, particularly where high-value machinery and technology are sold on long lead times,” said the MTA.
Mark Ridgway OBE, CEO of Group Rhodes Ltd and MTA Board Member, told the BBC:“ The real issue these tariffs create is indecision. When a customer in the United States is buying high-technology, patented equipment from the UK, they must factor these additional import costs into the return on investment. On a multi-million-pound programme, a 10 % duty is not a rounding error; it can change the commercial case altogether. What matters is not only the tariff itself, but how it compares with the treatment of our global competitors.” n
ISMR June 2026 | ismr. net | 7