Europe Restricts Steel Imports to Counter U.S. Trade Policies

01/17/2019

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Emre Perker | The Wall Street Journal

Policy aims to protect bloc’s steelmakers without harming consumers that rely on imports

The European Union Wednesday set restrictions on steel imports to manage the fallout from disruptive U.S. trade policies, making temporary measures definitive with the unintended consequence of helping cement President Trump’s metals tariffs.

Europe has faced surging imports since Mr. Trump announced a 25% tariff on almost all steel imports to the U.S. in March. The EU response balances protecting European steelmakers against avoiding harm to steel users, such as auto makers, that rely on imports.

The EU safeguards approved Wednesday impose quotas on 26 product categories and levy a 25% duty on imports exceeding those quotas, said the European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm. The EU also set country quotas on its major suppliers. The decision takes effect by Feb. 4, replacing provisional measures imposed in July.

 
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