Brussels/Washington — European steel exports to the United States have fallen by nearly a third since July 2025, following US President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on steel and aluminum, according to industry group Eurofer.
Trump’s tariffs, which include a 50% levy on steel and aluminum imports, were part of a broader push to protect US industries while exerting economic pressure on global trade partners.
“The figures underscore the need for any EU-US trade agreement to be fair, balanced and enforceable,” Eurofer said in a statement Friday.
Impact on European Industry
Data cited by Eurofer shows a 30% drop in EU steel exports to the US in the second half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. The slump comes amid Trump’s expansion of tariffs in August, which covered hundreds of products containing steel or aluminum, affecting machinery, automotive, and other metal-intensive sectors.
Despite repeated appeals, Washington has refused to reduce the tariffs, instead linking potential relief to EU changes in digital regulations — a condition Brussels considers unacceptable.
In response, the EU doubled tariffs on foreign steel in October 2025 to protect its struggling industry, with safeguards set to expire in June 2026 unless renewed.
Trade Deal and Parliament Approval
Eurofer’s warning comes as the European Parliament’s trade committee prepares to vote on implementing the EU-US trade deal, initially delayed due to Trump’s threats to annex Greenland. EU trade officials, including Maros Sefcovic, are urging lawmakers to approve the deal quickly ahead of discussions with EU trade ministers in Cyprus.
“Any EU-US trade agreement must be enforceable and balanced,” Sefcovic said, stressing that industrial safeguards remain critical for Europe’s competitiveness.
Industry observers warn that prolonged tariffs could weaken European steelmakers, hinder investment, and disrupt supply chains for machinery, vehicles, and construction sectors heavily reliant on metal imports.
