13 EU Member States submitted a formal request on November 29, 2024, stating that this process was necessary due to changes in steel trade flows. It is reported that the purpose of the investigation is to assess the evidence submitted by Member States to determine eligibility to update safeguard measures in line with market developments and to protect the interests of all stakeholders.
The European Commission announced that, based on the evidence presented, it intends to review whether any adjustments to safeguard measures for imports of steel products are necessary to adapt to market conditions and to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders. This assessment covers areas such as the allocation and management of the tariff quota, the preservation of traditional trade flows, updating the list of developing countries, the liberalization rate and possible changes to the level of the tariff quota.
The claim that the European Union's safeguard measures on steel imports serve the interests of all stakeholders continues to generate debate. Small and medium-sized enterprises in particular stand out as the main bearers of the costs and burdens of these policies for years. There is growing criticism that decisions taken in previous safeguard investigations and reviews have weakened the competitiveness of SMEs and damaged them in the long run. The early termination of safeguard measures seems almost impossible under World Trade Organization rules.
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