Switzerland seeks EU exemption from new steel tariffs

Despite the European Parliament’s Trade Committee having formally rejected such a request in recent weeks, Swiss authorities revived their bid for an exemption by holding an urgent meeting with EU representatives on Thursday.

Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) announced that an extraordinary meeting of the Joint Committee of the EU–Switzerland Free Trade Agreement was convened at Bern’s request. During the meeting, the Swiss side stressed the need to preserve established regional supply chains that are critical to European industry and called for special treatment in steel trade.

Switzerland’s renewed push comes at a time of rising tensions in EU trade policy. On Tuesday, the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee (INTA) approved a new steel trade framework to replace the current safeguard measures set to expire in June 2026, with 36 votes in favour, two against and five abstentions. The committee explicitly rejected a proposal to exempt Switzerland from out-of-quota tariffs.

Under the newly adopted framework, duty-free steel imports into the EU will be capped at 18.3 million tonnes per year, representing a 47% reduction compared with 2024 quota levels. Tariffs on out-of-quota imports will be increased from 25% to 50%. Exemptions will be limited to members of the European Economic Area—Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

However, the committee’s strict stance toward Switzerland appears at odds with messages the EU has conveyed to other trading partners. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said earlier this week, following the EU–India free trade agreement, that India would enjoy a “privileged position” in negotiations on access to the EU steel market. India is reportedly seeking a duty-free quota of around 1.6 million tonnes per year.

Despite Switzerland’s intensified diplomatic efforts, experts believe it will be difficult for the EU to reverse course on its new steel policy in the short term. The new measures are expected to establish a tighter trade regime aimed at protecting the European steel industry, while triggering new rounds of negotiations with third countries.