EU steel exports to the United States fell by 30pct in the second half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, following the imposition of 50pct US tariffs, according to new Eurostat data. The extension of the US tariff regime to include steel-intensive downstream products, such as machinery and equipment, is expected to deepen the impact on EU producers and their customers.
The European Steel Association (Eurofer) said the figures highlight the damage caused by current US tariff levels and add urgency to upcoming discussions on the EU-US trade agreement, scheduled for 24 February at the European Parliament International Trade Committee (INTA).
Eurofer Director General Axel Eggert said the sharp decline in exports shows that the tariffs are harming Europe’s steel industry, warning that the inclusion of downstream steel products will further amplify the negative effects. He stressed that any EU-US agreement must be fair, reciprocal and enforceable, delivering real market access for EU steel and a coordinated response to global overcapacity.
The industry welcomed proposals in the European Parliament to introduce review and response mechanisms into the EU-US arrangement, allowing action if tariffs remain high or increase further.
With EU steel safeguards set to expire in June, the sector urged that a new EU steel trade measure currently under negotiation be agreed and implemented by 1 July, and that steel-intensive downstream products be protected against trade diversion.
Eurofer also warned of rising indirect steel imports. Data from World Steel Association show that EU imports of steel embedded in finished goods increased from 96 mln tons in 2014 to 121 mln tons in 2024, while China’s indirect steel exports surged to around 137 mln tons in 2024, alongside record levels of direct steel exports.
